Found it at last! - Nelson directing fishing with seine nets:
Quote:
Nothing particular occurred until our arrival in the Downs : the seine was frequently hauled, by Lord Nelson's directions, and the eagerness and vivacity which he showed upon the occasion, to the great delight of the seamen, early pointed out to me the natural liveliness of his character, even in trivial matters.
This is from Colonel Stewart's account of the fleet gathering before departing for Copenhagen in 1801, included in Dispatches & Letters vol 4.
This is the same account in which he described Nelson's seamanship:
Quote:
The wind, when off Dungeness, was scanty, and the Ship was to be put about ; Lord Nelson would give the orders, and caused her to miss stays. Upon this he said, rather peevishly, to the Master, or Officer of the Watch, (I forget which,) ' Well, now, see what we have done. Well, Sir, what mean you to do now ?' The Officer saying with hesitation, ' I don't exactly know, my Lord ; I fear she won't do,' Lord Nelson turned sharply towards the cabin, and replied, ' Well, I am sure if you do not know what to do with her, no more do I either.' He went in, leaving the Officer to work the Ship as he liked.
I'm starting to find seine nets popping up all over the place now! From the personal narrative of William Stanhope Lovell:
Quote:
During the time we lay at anchor here we were in the habit of sending a boat to haul the seine on the Bayonne islands, and we were generally pretty successful. Amongst other fish, we frequently caught the torpedo, which gave me a practical lesson of its electric powers.