When bathing in strange or rocky places caution should be observed, as it is unpleasant to come suddenly upon sunken rocks covered with barnacles, &c., which cut the body badly when touched. Generally the rocks can be seen by side swimmers, and when going to land on them they swim up with the hands well down in the water and the body and legs as high up as possible, feel for a place on which to put their feet, and then quickly take hold and rise out of the water.
The hearing is often affected by continued sea-bathing, enher from concussion, or else through water remaining in the ear and producing disorder. The only remedy is tie use of cotton-wool or other car plugs.
It is absurd to imagine that a cold cannot be caught from bathing in sea water ; yet it is a widespread belief among swimmers, and one which tends to make them utterly careless in rubbing down and dressing. After the bath a short run will brace up the system, as well as ward off any chill, and the swimmer will then feel all the better for his exertions.
The best periods for bathing cannot well be stated, for sometimes in July the water is very cold, whilst in other years good bathing can be enjoyed by ordinary persons in June, or even as early as March. In August the water is usually quite warm, and those who begin in that month can go on every morning until early in October, when the over-night frosts begin to make their appearance. The number of sea-bathers who daily indulge in a dip all the year round is far in excess of those who bathe in fresh water, and along our coasts there are many men who every morning, week in week out, plunge into the open sea. At Plymouth, on Christmas morn, they have a regular meeting under the Hoe, boys, youths, young and old men, all assembling. The Brighton swimmers emerge from their ' Hole in the Wall,' and gambol on the shingle. l'ortsmouth has its believers in winter bathing ; in fact, most seaside towns have, and wherever a swimming club is to be found one or two all the year round men' can invariably be discovered. They maintain that immense benefit is derived from the practice, and that they enjoy their dip is undoubted.
The greatest authenticated long-distance swim in the sea without any artificial aid is that of Captain Webb across the English Channel. There have been many would-be imitators. but the feat still stands as the greatest on record.
Intense excitement was aroused in England, in the early part of August 1875, when it was announced that Webb intended shortly to attempt the feat of swimming across the English Channel without any artificial aid. Some few months previously,
Captain Boyton, the American life-saving expert, had after one failure, successfully accomplished the feat when clothed in a patent dress ; but although the journey demonstrated the great value of the dress, the paddle in itself was mere child's play in comparison with the task which Webb intended to perform.
Webb was born on January 19, 1848, at Irongate, near Dawley, in Shropshire, and was, therefore, not quite twenty eight years of age when he accomplished the feat which has made his name renowned in England.
He learnt to swim when only seven years of age, and when on board the 'Conway ' training ship, in the Mersey, saved the life of a comrade in danger of drowning. After leading a sea faring life for some years he returned to England able to swim a good breast-stroke, but he was not a fast swimmer. When he started for the Channel swim he was 5 ft. 8 in. hgh, measured 43 in. round the chest, and weighed about fourteen and a half stone. During his training he once swam out to the north-east Varne Buoy, which is more than half-way across the Channel, and also from Dover to Ramsgate, about eighteen miles, in 8 hrs. 45 mins., as well as in the Thames from Blackwall to Gravesend in 4 hrs. 52 mins.
The first attempt made by Webb resulted, like that of Boyton, in failure. This trial took place on August 12, 1875, and after swimming for 6 hrs. 48 mins. 3o secs., during which period he had covered thirteen and a half miles, Webb was com pelled to leave the water owing to his having been drifted nint. and three-quarter miles to the eastward of his course by the north-east stream and stress of weather. He was then nine and a quarter miles from Parker's Gap, between St. Margaret's and Walmer Castle, the nearest point on the English coast, and twelve and a half miles from Sangatte, the nearest spot on the French coast, one and a half mile on the French side of the East Goodwin Light, and two miles inside of Cape Grisnez. Webb started 2 hrs. 25 mins. before high water at Dover, on a tide rising 13 ft. 7 in. at that port. Even during the first hour of his swim, which was in slack water, he could not keep within a point of his proper course—S.E. by S. S.—and from 6 P.M he was drifted rapidly to leeward by the breeze and tide. From 9 to r o P.M. he had been breaking seven and a half points off his course, and as the south-west stream had but barely begun to ebb when he gave up, no estimate could be formed as to the probable distance he would have gone west on it.