Next morning we got under weigh to take a cruise among the islands. Passing round on the other side of Hugh Town, we perceived the narrowness of the strip on which it stands, and sincerely hoped that the sea would not again--as it once did--break across and inundate the place.  I cannot attempt to describe the numerous rocks and islands we sighted in our course, there being altogether upwards of three hundred, large and small.  Steering to the south-west, we passed Gorregan and Rosevean, where our pilot told us that many a stout ship had been lost; some, striking on the rocks, having gone down and left no sign of their fate, except some articles thrown up on the shore.  Coming to an anchor, we pulled off in the boat to catch fish, with which the sea literally swarmed.  We could see them swimming about through the clear water.  We were amused by the way in which our pilot, who was a great fisherman, caught them.  Throwing the bait always before their noses, and singing out, "Come along, Dick, come along, Tom; bite, my boy;" and, sure enough, the fish bit, and were caught.