A most extraordinary feature of the agitation to prevent loss of life at sea was the attitude of some shipmasters.  They believed it to be an undue interference with their sacred rights.  At the time when Mr. Plimsoll was vigorously pushing his investigations into the causes for so many vessels foundering, he went to Braila and Galatz, and examined every English steamer he was allowed to visit.  Some owners, hearing that he was on a tour of investigation, instructed their captains not to allow him admittance; and I heard at the time that these instructions in some cases were rudely carried out.  One forenoon he paid a casual visit to the steamer “A——­,” and entered into conversation with a person whom he assumed to be the commander.  He chatted some time with him upon general topics, and soon discovered that the captain was not of the same political faith as himself.  Shipmasters who take political sides are generally conservative.  Up to that time he had carefully avoided making known his identity.  At last he ventured to approach the object of his visit.  He said, “Now, Captain, we have had a pleasant little chat; I should like to have your views before I go, on the Plimsoll agitation.  They may be of value to me.  I should like you to state also what you think of Plimsoll.  I have heard varied opinions of him.”

“Well,” said the captain, in broad North Shields dialect, “you ask what I think of the agitation.  My opinion is that all the skallywags who are taking part in it should be locked up, and have the cat every morning at five o’clock, and every hour of the day after, until they abstain from meddling with what they know nothing about!  And as for Plimsoll, I would tie one end of a rope round his neck, and attach the other to a fire bar, and chuck him in there,” pointing to the ebbing stream of the Danube!

“Then,” said Mr. Plimsoll, “you are not in sympathy with the movement?”

“No,” said the infuriated skipper, “and nobody but a ——­ fool would be!”

“But don’t you think, Captain,” said Mr. Plimsoll, “that the measures you suggest are somewhat extreme, for after all they are only trying to improve the condition of the seamen?”

“Seamen be d——­d,” said this meteoric Northumbrian.  “We don’t want ships turned into nurseries, and that’s what it’s coming to!”

There were indications that the interview should cease.  Mr. Plimsoll thereupon prepared to take his leave.  He apologised to the captain for having taken up so much of his time, handed him his card, and proceeded to land.  The gallant captain looked at the card, and called for his distinguished visitor to wait, so that he might make known to him that he was ignorant of his identity, otherwise he would have saved him the pain of disclosing his opinions!

“And your method of putting a stop to agitation?” interjected Plimsoll.

“Well,” said the rollicking mariner, laughing at the joke that had been played upon him, “we sailors express ourselves that way, but we have no bad intentions!”