Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1905-11-23
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For daring and enterprise, for bold
ness in the face of danger, the hardy
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 its harbor Is
crowded with staunch schooners that
have known many a battle with the
wind, wave and threatening ice.
Were 1t not for the skill and daring
Of these hardy men, the fish markets
Of the United States would be lacking
large percentage of staple that has
become almost indispensable.
AS early as April the captains cour-
ageous" of Gloucester start out. They
make their way northward, fishing all
along the Newfoundland coast, bat
Ting 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 is coming southwark they press,
until they reach the halibut banks
| about the mouth of Hudson bay, or
the fishing grounds along the shores
of 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 seer
coming swiftly along on the bosom O.
the relentless Labrador current. I
was a lone, terrifying barrier, brist
ling with Jagged points and blocks o
ice twenty feet high.
In this massive grip the ship was
caught, her rudder was smashed ant
her seams opened. Ice closed around
her like some giant band Of destiny
| and immense blocks crashed upon hel
| deck
BY setting all her canvas, at the
risk of having her spars torn out, the
vessel finally worked clear. For si1
days the weary crew toiled without
ceasing at the pumps, until they made
st. Johns harbor
Very fortunate they felt In escaping
so easily. Hundreds Of vessels hat
been caught in similar ice packs ant
crushed to pieces.
This instance is cited as illustrating
common danger of the fishing
grounds. Hundreds of vessels have
had similar experiences, while many
unfortunates have never returned t.
tell the tale.
It is a danger that swoops dowI
with startling swiftness. One hou,
may see the ocean comparatively free
Of distractions, and a number of yes
sells busy with their fishing lines; thu
| next all NAV be encircled by an icI