Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-11
DANGEROUS FISHING.
FATALITIES OF THE SEA DUE TO MA
 RlNE ANIMALS.

How a Shark Took a Harpooner Out of
 Boat Losses From Whaling Vessels.
 Why There Are So bIany Widows and
 Orphans In Certain New England Towns.
 If the fatalities of the sea that could be traced directly and indirectly to marine animals could be collected every year, they would make not only interesting but startling reading. In tho really pacific waters of the western ocean VIC have but little idea of the dangers of the sea- but stroll through tho New England towns of Gloucester, Marblehead, Swampscott and others will show them to have an extraor- dinary number of widows in proportion to the population.
 This is particularly true of Gloucester where the widows and orphans of fisher men make small army. The fishermen were all lost on the Grand banks or the Georges banks of the cod fisheries. They were either run down by ocean steamers that go over the banks at full speed, often hitting the vessels in the fog, or the frail schooncrs were destroyed in the terrific gales that sweep over the country.
 It may be of interest to glance at the yearly loss of men who lose their lives in the effort to provide the country with salt cod. From 1880 to 1881, 2,249 were drowned from cod fishermen, leaving 1,S00 widows and between 1000 and 5000 orphans, not to speak of other persons de- pendent upon them. Tho loss in insurance during this time was about ST. 800, 900, and the number of vessels lost 419--a re- markable showing for a single line of business The loss of these 2, GOO or more men means recital of incidents that can not be equaled in the annals of heroism.
 The writer knows of one vessel that was lying at anchor, with all hands below ex- cept tho watch, that was struck by steam or. All were drowned except the man at the wheel, who drifted "A hours before he was picked up. Another schooner was sailing in the fog when she was suddenly capsized by steamer that rolled her com pletely over, the men dropping out of their hammocks to tho ceiling and then to the floor as she quickly righted. The man at the wheel was lashed and was found half drowned.
 Many men have been lost in the fog in their dories and nearly starved to death before they were found, while others are picked up by outgoing steamers. The scene when the fishing fleet returns after great losses Is described as heartrending Then there is always the uncertainty and many men have been picked up and car ried to foreign countries.
 Tho losses from the whaling fleets are not so great as formerly, but 80 years ago they were very noticeable, often amount ing to several hundred men in a year. The vessels are sometimes crushed in the ice, or a whale kills the men by demolish ing the boat. A remarkable accident oc- cured some years ago, which, while in a fully equipped whaleboat was observed hyn lv ha hal struck and was sounding at terrific rate of speed when in some way a coil of rope caught about the foot of the harpooner, and in second he was gone. The acci- dent took place before the entire crew, but was so suddenly accomplished that but one man saw the disappearance.
 Many fatalities of the sea are laid to sharks but accidents from this source arc - comparatively rare. In a diligent search for authentic instances of large sharks de- vouring men found but two that could be attested to. One was a man whose family kpew, and tho instance is well known and remarkable for the ferocity displayed by the fish.
 In 1874 was fishing of the isles of Shoals with cod fisherman, who told me that when his father was a young man there was large shark that infested the
  tempted to tip over boats and dine on the occupants, and once or twice the young man had been driven ashore by it. The date corresponded within a month with that of tragedy which occurred about 80 miles south, or at Lynn, and which was undoubtedly caused by the same fish. A well known citizen of Lynn went out with fishing party, and after short time left tho schooner, taking Il small dory, which he anchored not 1000 feet from the vessel. Suddenly he was heard to shout and those on the vessel distinctly saw a huge shark throw itself over the dory and sink it, making of with the unfortunate man, whose cries for aid were of no avail.
 The other one was that of a sailor on the Mediterranean who left a vessel to take swim in the sea. A shark was seen swimming toward him by some of the crew, who started to row out to meet the swimmer, but before they reached the spot the shark had seized him and cut him in two.
 The little shark, or doghsh, of the New England coast has not very savory repu- tation in these waters I have seen them in such schools that it was impossible to throw a line over without their biting 1t. They appeared to be starving, and on one occasion bit sail into shreds that was hanging overheard.
 These ravenous fish appear so suddenly that recall one day one could not be seen in that portion of coast, and the next day the fishermen all gave up their regu- lar fishing and devoted themselves to dog fishing, bringing the fish in by the boat load.
 At such times 1t is extremely danger ous to fall ot9fboaFd, and numerous fatal ities point to the conclusion that these lit- tie shhrks are as dangerous as man eater. On one o6casion> some children were play ing about tAe deok cf sch9oner when one fell overbo6fd and by'sh time the crew reached the side tbe hQly was surrQundef by living ball of tloghshes and tosn pieoee A fisherman, having lels.Ah d.