The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1905-11-16

less IN the race OF danger, the naruy
fishermen who wrest livelihood from
the perilous Arctic seas are not sur
passed by any on the globe.
At this moment hundreds Of these
men are battling with storm and ice,
fog and treacherous currents in the
frigid waters of Labrador, Greenland
and Iceland.
Setting out from home ports some
times as early as April, by August
they reach the northern limits of their
fishing grounds and, perhaps, have al
ready encountered extraordinary
hardships and perils.
The cargoes of Goldfish and halibut
they bring back to stock the markets
OF the United States are often secured
at great cost in suffering, and even
life
Innumerable are the dangers Of the
fishing fields. Work must be done Oft
times amid icebergs and drift packs !;
t-eacherous fogs descend and many
fishing vessels are cut down by some
rushing liner and sent to the bottom
with all hands.
A greater percentage of these men
are lost than in any other calling, not
excepting that of arms. 1t has long
| been said that the history of the Glou
cester fisheries is written in tears.
Gloucester, Mass, is the recognized
| and time-honored home port of this
| fishing fleet. At times it's harbor is
| u1 tyith cto No,
have known many battle with the
wind, wave and threatening ice.
Were it not for the skill and daring
of these hardy men. the fish market!
Of the United States would be lackinl
a large percentage of a staple that ha!
become almost indispensable.
AS early as April the captains cour
ageous" of Gloucester start out. The,
make their way northward, fishing al
along the Newfoundland coast, bat
Ting with foes and bergs, dodginl
passing steamers, watching for disas
ter amid fogs, but busily fishing al
the while.
Straight into the teeth of the ic
that is coming southwark they press
until they reach the halibut bank
about the mouth of Hudson bay, o
the fishing grounds along the shore
of Greenland.
One July morning an American
schooner was setting out her fishin
lines in Arctic waters when the whit
wall of an advancing ice foe was see
coming swiftly along on the bosom c
the relentless Labrador current.
was a lone, terrifying barrier, bris
ling with jagged points and blocks {
ice twenty feet high.
In this massive grip the ship wa
caught, her rudder was smashed an
her seams opened. Ice closed aroun
her like some giant band of destin
and immense blocks crashed upon he
deck.
By setting all her canvas, at tn
risk of having her spars torn out, III
vessel finally worked clear. For 81
days the weary crew toiled withol
ceasing at the pumps, until they mad
!, st. Johns harbor
Very fortunate they felt in escapin
so easily. Hundreds OF vessels ha
been caught in similar ice packs an
, crushed to pieces.
This instance is cited as illustratir
a common danger OF the fishir
: grounds. Hundreds OF vessels hay
had similar experiences, while mar
D unfortunates have never returned
tell the tale.
Il Is a danger that swoops dow
with startling swiftness. One no,
=; may see the ocean comparatively fr,
Of Instructions, and a number of We
sells busy with their fishing lines; Il
next, all may be encircled by an Il