Inscribed by the artist at the bottom, as title. A study of men hauling on deck , probably to cat an anchor (i.e. bring it up to the cathead, see PAE3140). They are facing after, partly under the ship's bridge wing so the anchor is one on the starboard side of the ship. Figures looking over the starboard bow behind are watching the anchor come up into position. It is likely that the drawing dates from 1889 when Wyllie cruised on board HMS 'Black Prince' during naval manoeuvres in Lough Swilly on the north-west coast of County Donegal, Ireland. The resulting drawings were exhibited the same year at the Fine Art Society, London, in an exhibition called 'The Queen's Navy'. They were seen by a group of Royal Academicians, which, according to Mrs Wyllie, writing later, contributed to Wyllie being elected an Associate of the Royal Academy by large majority.

'Black Prince' was built by Napier's, Glasgow, and launched in 1861. It was the world's second ocean-going, iron-hulled, armoured warship, following its class sister, 'Warrior, but neither had long active careers owing to rapid advances in naval technology. 'Black Prince' served in the Channel Fleet and was hulked in 1896, becoming a harbour training ship in Queenstown, Ireland. It was renamed 'Emerald' in 1903 and then 'Impregnable III' in 1910 when assigned to the training establishment in Plymouth. It was sold for breaking up in March 1923. [PvdM/BT 11/18]