bloggleration

A stranger and his wife were being rowed from Swanage to Poole in the 1820s and were curious to see a line of corks bobbing the the water. The boatman explained that they were lobster pots – they were actually markers for kegs of brandy hidden underwater (known as ‘sewing the line’).

The stranger insisted on pulling up the ‘lobster pots’, only to discover the kegs of brandy – unfortunately for the boatman and the smugglers, the stranger turned out to be the new Chief Customs Officer for Swanage and the smugglers were arrested the next time they went out to collect their loot.

Source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/articles/2005/06/28/coast05walks_stage4_feature.shtml

www.stories-of-ged.co.uk