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Tales of the Fish Patrol
by Jack London
WHITE AND YELLOW
San Francisco Bay is so large that often its storms are more
disastrous to ocean…going craft than is the ocean itself in its
violent moments。 The waters of the bay contain all manner of fish；
wherefore its surface is ploughed by the keels of all manner of
fishing boats manned by all manner of fishermen。 To protect the
fish from this motley floating population many wise laws have been
passed； and there is a fish patrol to see that these laws are
enforced。 Exciting times are the lot of the fish patrol： in its
history more than one dead patrolman has marked defeat； and more
often dead fishermen across their illegal nets have marked success。
Wildest among the fisher…folk may be accounted the Chinese shrimp…
catchers。 It is the habit of the shrimp to crawl along the bottom
in vast armies till it reaches fresh water； when it turns about and
crawls back again to the salt。 And where the tide ebbs and flows；
the Chinese sink great bag…nets to the bottom； with gaping mouths；
into which the shrimp crawls and from which it is transferred to
the boiling…pot。 This in itself would not be bad； were it not for
the small mesh of the nets； so small that the tiniest fishes；
little new…hatched things not a quarter of an inch long； cannot
pass through。 The beautiful beaches of Points Pedro and Pablo；
where are the shrimp…catchers' villages； are made fearful by the
stench from myriads of decaying fish； and against this wasteful
destruction it has ever been the duty of the fish patrol to act。
When I was a youngster of sixteen； a good sloop…sailor and all…
round bay…waterman； my sloop； the Reindeer； was chartered by the
Fish Commission； and I became for the time being a deputy
patrolman。 After a deal of work among the Greek fishermen of the
Upper Bay and rivers； where knives flashed at the beginning of
trouble and men permitted themselves to be made prisoners only
after a revolver was thrust in their faces； we hailed with delight
an expedition to the Lower Bay against the Chinese shrimp…catchers。
There were six of us； in two boats； and to avoid suspicion we ran
down after dark and dropped anchor under a projecting bluff of land
known as Point Pinole。 As the east paled with the first light of
dawn we got under way again； and hauled close on the land breeze as
we slanted across the bay toward Point Pedro。 The morning mists
curled and clung to the water so that we could see nothing； but we
busied ourselves driving the chill from our bodies with hot coffee。
Also we had to devote ourselves to the miserable task of bailing；
for in some incomprehensible way the Reindeer had sprung a generous
leak。 Half the night had been spent in overhauling the ballast and
exploring the seams； but the labor had been without avail。 The
water still poured in； and perforce we doubled up in the cockpit
and tossed it out again。
After coffee； three of the men withdrew to the other boat； a
Columbia River salmon boat； leaving three of us in the Reindeer。
Then the two craft proceeded in company till the sun showed over
the eastern sky…line。 Its fiery rays dispelled the clinging
vapors； and there； before our eyes； like a picture； lay the shrimp
fleet； spread out in a great half…moon； the tips of the crescent
fully three miles apart； and each junk moored fast to the buoy of a
shrimp…net。 But there was no stir； no sign of life。
The situation dawned upon us。 While waiting for slack water； in
which to lift their heavy nets from the bed of the bay； the Chinese
had all gone to sleep below。 We were elated； and our plan of
battle was swiftly formed。
〃Throw each of your two men on to a junk；〃 whispered Le Grant to me
from the salmon boat。 〃And you make fast to a third yourself。
We'll do the same； and there's no reason in the world why we
shouldn't capture six junks at the least。〃
Then we separated。 I put the Reindeer about on the other tack； ran
up under the lee of a junk； shivered the mainsail into the wind and
lost headway； and forged past the stern of the junk so slowly and
so near that one of the patrolmen stepped lightly aboard。 Then I
kept off； filled the mainsail； and bore away for a second junk。
Up to this time there had been no noise； but from the first junk
captured by the salmon boat an uproar now broke forth。 There was
shrill Oriental yelling； a pistol shot； and more yelling。
〃It's all up。 They're warning the others；〃 said George； the
remaining patrolman； as he stood beside me in the cockpit。
By this time we were in the thick of the fleet； and the alarm was
spreading with incredible swiftness。 The decks were beginning to
swarm with half…awakened and half…naked Chinese。 Cries and yells
of warning and anger were flying over the quiet water； and
somewhere a conch shell was being blown with great success。 To the
right of us I saw the captain of a junk chop away his mooring line
with an axe and spring to help his crew at the hoisting of the
huge； outlandish lug…sail。 But to the left the first heads were
popping up from below on another junk； and I rounded up the
Reindeer alongside long enough for George to spring aboard。
The whole fleet was now under way。 In addition to the sails they
had gotten out long sweeps； and the bay was being ploughed in every
direction by the fleeing junks。 I was now alone in the Reindeer；
seeking feverishly to capture a third prize。 The first junk I took
after was a clean miss； for it trimmed its sheets and shot away
surprisingly into the wind。 By fully half a point it outpointed
the Reindeer； and I began to feel respect for the clumsy craft。
Realizing the hopelessness of the pursuit； I filled away； threw out
the main…sheet； and drove down before the wind upon the junks to
leeward； where I had them at a disadvantage。
The one I had selected wavered indecisively before me； and； as I
swung wide to make the boarding gentle； filled suddenly and darted
away； the smart Mongols shouting a wild rhythm as they bent to the
sweeps。 But I had been ready for this。 I luffed suddenly。
Putting the tiller hard down； and holding it down with my body； I
brought the main…sheet in； hand over hand； on the run； so as to
retain all possible striking force。 The two starboard sweeps of
the junk were crumpled up； and then the two boats came together
with a crash。 The Reindeer's bowsprit； like a monstrous hand；
reached over and ripped out the junk's chunky mast and towering
sail。
This was met by a curdling yell of rage。 A big Chinaman；
remarkably evil…looking； with his head swathed in a yellow silk
handkerchief and face badly pock…marked； planted a pike…pole on the
Reindeer's bow and began to shove the entangled boats apart。
Pausing long enough to let go the jib halyards； and just as the
Reindeer cleared and began to drift astern； I leaped aboard the
junk with a line and made fast。 He of the yellow handkerchief and
pock…marked face came toward me threateningly； but I put my hand
into my hip pocket； and he hesitated。 I was unarmed； but the
Chinese have learned to be fastidiously careful of American hip
pockets； and it was upon this that I depended to keep him and his
savage crew at a distance。
I ordered him to drop the anchor at the junk's bow； to which he
replied； 〃No sabbe。〃 The crew responded in like fashion； and
though I made my meaning plain by signs； they refused to
understand。 Realizing the inexpediency of discussing the matter； I
went forward myself； overran the line； and let the anchor go。
〃Now get aboard； four of you；〃 I said in a loud voice； indicating
with my fingers that four of them were to go with me and the fifth
was to remain by the junk。 The Yellow Handkerchief hesitated； but
I repeated the order fiercely （much more fiercely than I felt）； at
the same time sending my hand to my hip。 Again the Yellow
Handkerchief was overawed； and with surly looks he led three of his
men aboard the Reindeer。 I cast off at once； and； leaving the jib
down； steered a course for George's junk。 Here it was easier； for
there were two of us； and George had a pistol to fall back on if it
came to the worst。 And here； as with my junk； four Chinese were
transferred to the sloop and one left behind to take care of
things。
Four more were added to our passenger list from the third junk。 By
this time the salmon boat had collected its twelve prisoners and
came alongside； badly overloaded。 To make matters worse； as it was
a small boat； the patrolmen were so jammed in with their prisoners
that they would have little chance in case of trouble。
〃You'll have to help us out；〃 said Le Grant。
I looked over my prisoners； who had crowded into the cabin and on
top of it。 〃I can take three；〃 I answered。
〃Make it four；〃 he suggested； 〃and I'll take Bill with me。〃 （Bill
was the third patrol