Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-12-20
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For daring and enterprise. for bold
fess In the face OF danger. the hardy
fishermen who wrest a livelihood from
the perilous Arctic seas are not sur
passed by any on the globe.
Al this moment hundreds OF these
men are battling with storm and Ice.
fog and treacherous currents in the
fiigid waters Of Labrador. Greenland
and Iceland.
Setting out from home ports some
Tines as early as April. by August
they reach the northern limits OF their
fishing grounds and, perhaps. have al
ready encountered extraordinary
aardships and perils.
The c8rgOes OF Goldfish and halibut
they bring back TO stock the markets
u the United States are often secured
AZ great cost in suffering. and even
'lfe
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 loft than In any other calling. not
excepting that OF arms II has long
been said that the history Of the Glou-
ccster fisheries Is written In tears.
Gloucester. Mass. Is the recognized
and iime.honored home port OF this
fishing feet. At times it's harbor is
,r0wded with staunch schooners that
have known many a battle with the
wind. wave and threatening Ice.
Were II not for the skill and daring
II these hardy men. the fish markets
II the United States would be lacking
= large percentage OF staple that has
become almost indispensable.
As early as April the captains cour-
lgeous" Of Gloucester start out. They
make their way northward. fishing all
along the Newfoundland coast. bat
ling with foes and bergs lodging
passing steamers. watching for disas-
ter amid fogs. but busily fishing all
the while.
Straight into the teeth OF the ice
that Il coming southwark they press.
until they reach the halibut banks
about the mouth OF Hudson bay. or
the fishing grounds along the shores
oi Greenland
One July morning an American
schooner was setting out her fishing
lines in Arctic waters when the white
wall Of an advancing ice foe was seen
coming swiftly along on the bosom OF
the relentless Labrador current. II
vas lone. terrifying barrier, brisi-
ling with Jagged points and blocks Of
Ice twenty feet high
In this massive grip the ship was
caught. her rudder was smashed and
her seams opened. Ice closed around
her like some giant band Of destiny
and immense blocks crashed upon her
deck
By setting all her canvas. AZ the
risk 81 having her spars torn out. the
vessel finally worked clear. For six
DAYS the weary crew toiled without
ceaslne az the pumps. until they made
ST. Johns harbor
Very fortunate they felt In escaping
so easily. Hundreds OF vessels had
been caught In similar ice packs and
crushed 10 pieces.
This instance Is cited as Illustrating
common danger of the fishing
grounds Hundreds 81 vessels have
had similar experiences. while manv
urforiunates have never returned 10
tell the tale.
II Is a danger that swoons down
with startling swiftness. One hour
nav see the ocean comparatively free
~ distractions and n number Of yes
sells busy with their fishing lines: The
next. all may be encircled by an ice