New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

during two years in nshOre fishery. and who
declares his intention TO remain a seaman or
fisherman" Consequently almost the whole
seacoast population Of Brittany is governed
and controlled by the rules Of maritime inscrip-
ton and one of the results is that almost the
entire ''maistance." or body Of frst-cass petty
officers of the French Navy such masters
alarms. quartermasters, boatswains, coxswa!ns,
master-gunners. master torpedo men. etc, are
BretOns. The 'maistance" In the French Navy
corresponds with the "petite-bourgeosie" Of the
nation. and is the connecting link between the
officers and sailors Of ship, just as in former
days the petite bourgeOise' served a buffer
between the nobility and the people. The
"maistance" always have their separate mess
on board ship, and enjoy greater privileges
than is the case with the analogous class OF
petty officers in the nayies Of other countries,
This institution Of the Maritime Inscription,
established by Louis XIV. is vigorously main
tained. and is still considered to be the best
plan that can be devised to insure the esprit
de corps and efficiency OF the crews that man
the French fleet.
The Bretons a sturdy homely. frugal race
They are fond Of drink, like almost all seafar-
ing people and on Sundays and feast days they
consume enormous amounts OF cider and coarse
high-proof spirits made from potatoes and beet
root They live much upon buckwheat made
into cakes. and mix rye with their wheat into
coarse meal, which forms dark colored bread.
Huge wooden crosses are to be seen In all the
hamlets and villages, and, whether republican
or royalist the Breton is sure 10 be above all
a devOut Catholic. The caste feeling is still
very strong. The sons of the old Breton nobility
are brought up at the jesuit College or Nannes,
and from there many Of them go to the naval
school Of the BOrda, at Brest, and are gradu-
ated as officers Of the navy. The great re-
sources ~ the Bretons are the deepsea fisheries
Of Newfoundland and Iceland. In the last year
the Breton fishermen caught 10000 tons OF cod
hsh. 6o."00 tons OF herring Gin the North Seal.
5000 tons Of mackere 10000 tons of anchovies
and about 10000 sardines.
PERILs ENCOUNTERED AS FISHERMEN.
In 1897 there were 1o5OO Breton fishermen
engaged in the Newfoundland fisheries, and Of
these 266 persisted at sea. This loss was due 70
the following causes: BY shipwreck (sx fishing
vessels lost. 49, men in dories lost in the fog
run down by steamers, s.: other accidents
and illness. ~. Total 266. This gives death
rate In the six months Of the fishing season OF
20 per cent.
In 1897 there were BIS Bretons engaged in
the fisheries off the coast OF Iceland, and OF
these sG persisted al sea so by shipwreck and
by ness). This gives death rate for the six
months of % per cent.
These high death rates will be more fully ap-
precated when compared with the percentage
Of deaths of an army in an active campaign
Take, for instance the battles OF Magenta and
Solferino. According to the report OF NJ.
Morache, medical inspector OF the French army.
the number Of killed follows At Ma
genta. T. for every 1000 men In action: at SOL
ferinO. l3 for each 1909 men in action. II will
thus be seen that each year the Breton fisher
men who go 10 the Newfoundland Banks incur
as great risk as II they went to and
debted TO VI. Bonnafy, medical director OF tho
French navy. for the above figures which IL
lustrate so clearly the dangers Of the daily oc-
cupaton Of the Bretons. who form the nucleus
OF the French navy and mercantile marine
The Bret0ns have qualities eminently suited
10 seafaring life, and their perseverance and
patient courage are beyond question. They ad-
here 10 old notions and ideas. They make
money If they can by close parslmony. They
hoard their savings. but do not invest them,
ana agriculture is in a backward state. The
little earthen houses of the Breton villages,
with their tEatched roofs and diminutive VIM
dows. are almost as primitive as the habitations
or the Middle Ages. There are few comforts in
brittany, and the animation that commerce
lmparts 10 the towns Of Normandy. TOurane or
burgundy Is almost unknown In Brittany. The
Bretons are a hardy. brave. seafaring race with
an Unborn respect for authority. whether pa
rental or pertaining 10 the government. and all
VINO nave been 10 sea with them say that they
are not surpassed by Scandinavians or Anglo
SaXons as sailors whether serving in the navy
or on transatlantic liners
The writer. who recently made two trips be-
tween New-York and Havre with the late Cap
tain Dcloncle. well remembers that gallant COM
mander in thick fog when board La Nor.
mandie on the Newfoundland Banks In April,
1871. not far from the place where the Bour-
gogne disaster occurred. exclaiming: Give me
Breton seamen. for as regards courage knowl-
edge OF the sea sang froid and discipline they
are unsurpassed by any sailors in the world"'