A fun day on the water on the River Colne, Essex. A man is attempting to walk out on a long round wooden pole which is projecting from the starboard side of the deck of the spritsail barge Volunteer (1879). There is a large number of spectators on board the barge and she is dressed overall for the occasion. The top of her mast and her bow are out of the picture. The photographer is in a boat off the barge's starboard bow. Vertical format.