The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-29
NETTING WARShPS.

The very singular mshaD to the coast
defense vessel Monterey on her way down
from Mare Island is suggestive of new de-
vices in naval warfare for the protection Of
harbors and the entrances TO rivers. The
Monterey attempted to steam across a
fishing net. and the propellers became so
entangled in the meshes, float cordage ana
ropes that they were pulled up short aud
the engines we're stopped. Divers had TO
be sent down TO cut the prOpeilers free. and
it is not unlikely that ths vessel will have
to go into the drydock to be ompletely re-
Ieved Of its ENHANCEMENT This incident
will be taken due notice of by these who
are constantly giving attention TO new ideas
in warfare. For the moment it seems TO be
a gain to the defensive side. If few nun
bred yards of fish-net could be relied on 10
render a warship motionless and helpless,
the engineer must devise some counter
agency to slash and sever the net or to keep
1t clear Of n vessels wake. a strong wire
guard inrl0siBg both helm and propeller
might be found effective for this purpose
without materially retarding progress.
Meanwhile 1t is almost ludicrous 10 behold
a huge, powerful vessel suddenly stopped
and baftled by trumpeTy stretch Of fishing
gear, each cord of which singly could per-
maps Ub 5uhppcu llhE pdCh AlllSdu. IL 10
another Illustration of the saying that
union is strength, and of the lion and mouse
fable.
We are not told what kind of net it was
that tangled the Monterey herring net,
a shrimp net, great mesh net for sea bass
or salmon would probably all catch a war
vessel very securely in the same way and
give more bother than submarine mines,
which, by means of counter mines, can be
exploded harmIessly. Nets of steel are used
to catch torpedoes whizzing through the
water but it is great stride to haul in a
vessel itself by means of fish net. 1t may
occur to the mariner. however, that this is
not the first timenets have been encountered
by vessels. Miles and miles of drift nets
have been cut through by steam vessels, and
generally to the detriment OF the nets gTieV-
ously and not to that OF the steamer. Fish
er-boats ride at the end of their nets with
light UP 10 warn vessels to keep Of and
often fisher folk have occasion TO complain
Of needless Shippers, who forge ahead and
cut the nets. So there must have been some
thing peculiar about the manner in which
this ret wrapped itself round the hubs AID
blades OF the Monterey. The engineer will
have to find out how it was done so effectu-
ally, if fortuitously, aud then set about an
imitation Of the style.
Nature IN various forms has illustrated
similar restraining power upon mighty
forces. The fronds of the fucUs weeds of
Cape Horn break down the sweep of the
heaviest surges aud rollers as they near the
shore and enter inlets OF bays. Such masses
of water in swift motion would soon break
up heavy ship or sweep her decks clear,
but these trailing alge. with their stems
coming up from depths OF 2e00 feet, gradu-
ally fritter away the force into a calm.
Weeds in lakes render them useless for
rowing or yachting and they very materi-
ally choke canals against navigation. So
with the leaves and boughs of trees in
breaking the force of wind.