The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-08-04

The sinking of the Vanderbilt yacht in
Vineyard Sound created quite sensation.
1t is not every day that freight steamer
sinks the million dollar yacht of a million
aire Luckily no lives We're lost, and
now the question comes up as to the re-
sponsibility for the disaster dense fog
prevailed, and the yacht had anchored
close to Pollock Rip Shoals. 1t seems to
be conceded that the yacht used the
proper fog signals and that they We're
heard on board the steamer. but not in
time to prevent collision. But for the
changed course and lessened way of the
Dimock the Alva would have been cut in
two, and 10 doubt there would have been
loss of life. The captain of the Dimock
claims that the Alva was anchored in the
channel. and that is Indicated by the posi-
ton of the Yacht after she sank. How
fal that lessons the responsibility of the
steamship company we are unable to say
positively. but it would seem that in a fog
SO dense as to make navigation dangerous
a vessel may anchor anywhere, of course
complying with regulations as to signals.
1t is said that two steamers had passed the
Alva while at anchor before the Dimock
came along and sent her to the bottom.
The Boston journal says:
According to authorities on maritime
| law. if the captain of the Alva can prove
~ l. 4
govern ships lying at anchor, the steamer
that bore down upon the Alva will be held
liable for any and all claims. This is
gathered from the statements of we'll
known captains who know of what they
speak bllt do not want others to speak of
them.
Another question of responsibility is
likely to arise in this connection. The
coal laden SCH Everett Webster ran on to
the sunken steam yacht Tuesday night
and when GOT off was leaking badly. She
was lowed to Hyannis for repairs. The
wreck has since been buoyed by the Unit
ed States steamer Nerbena.
Some interesting statistics of the fish
cries of New England are printed on the
third page. The exhibit upon the
whole is satisfactory. Maine is the only
State in which there has BEEN general
increase in the persons engaged in the
fisheries and this is no doubt due to the
wise legislation for the protection of the
fishing interest. The success of the fish
ing industry is measured by double
standard. First of course. is the imme-
Giate return to those engaged i'll it. and
Coupled with this is the indirect gam of
a class of trained seamen for onr merchant
marine and navy. The active value of the
industry is shown by the fact that it
yields SO. 800, GAL year. That is. the
nnlal returns are more than one-halt OF
he total investment. As to the seamen.
Capt. Collins figures show that there
are about -. 122 men shipping on the va
III Gus smacks and steamers and of those
he estimates a. S41 to be Americans. This
indicates how closely the personnel of the
industry is allied with our New England
people. 1t shows also the creation of Il
body which the Government could be
sure of counting upon in any time of
need. A drawer or harder set of men
than these fishermen can nowhere be
found. Working underadverse conditions
and in the face of constant danger, work
ing, too, without tie certain knowledge
of phenomenal profits which their pre-
decessors nearly always had, one yet hears
less from them in the way of discomfort
and dissatisfaction than from almost any
other class OF workers.