The state herald., 1908-08-28

II has often been stated that the sea
is Infinitely more productive, acre for
acre. than the most fertile land in the
world: indeed, without including the
countless myriads of more or less mi
mute organisms that serve as food for
fishes. one has only to consider for a
moment the enormous quantities daily
landed and consumed in England
alone, to be convinced of the truth of
the assertion.
Who is there that has passed over
London bridge. and is not familiar
with the busy scene which takes place
every morning, when. amid the rattIN
OF steam -winches and raucous shouts
Of the porters. London's daily fish sup
ply is landed at Billingsgnte market?
Prosaic enough those three or four
small steamers look lying huddled up
side by side against the wharf. with
the white'smocked porters toillng like
strings Of ants. each with his load on
his head. across their decks. or return.
ing empty.handed for a fresh case,
Insignificant and unkempt as they
may appear beside smart passenger.
boats. these stoutly built little vessels,
that can scarcely raise ten knots an
hour. will go plunglng and wallowing
amid clouds Of spray into the teeth
OF the hercest gale that ever blew.
while their aristocratlc companions
cover tmidly In harbor. waiting for
l hANYAN hgfRgA Aas
forth. They are built for rough work.
and they get plenty OF II ms conyeyers
OF fish from that marvellous floating
town that year In and year out moves
slowly over the famous Dogger bank.
or cruises steadily and increasingly
round the North sea. searching for,
and cndeavoring TO follow. the vast
shoals that frequent these ineShnust'
ible fshlng'grounds.
Unheeded ms are the inhabitants OF
these sea townships by the great ma.
! iority OF lnndsmen. they are not per.
mltted to go altogether uncared for.
thanks TO the Royal Mission TO Deep
Sea Fishermen. which has three mis-.
aIon-steamers stationed permanently
among the fleets. There are four Of
these fleets, each consisting of up'
wards of 20 or so trawlers. irrespective
of foreign vessels and numerous lndo'
pcndon, fishing boats
A visit TO the City Of the Sea during
the summer months makes n remark
ably enjoyable pleasure trip; but TO
see tho ncamy side Of life aboard a
steam trawlor one must go In the
winter. when the seas run mountains
high, and the wild north wind, like the
breath Of the lee Spirit. drives the
snow and nleot into the fhhermon's
faces ~ they haul In their nets, and
numba their fingers as they Subsc
qu.ntly clean and sort the catch.
Visiting the fleets In winter n no
light undertaking Leaving Billings
gate soon after midday We arrived nj
grayracnd shortly before dark. and
made fast alongside the coal and lee
hulk 20 replenish our stores of these
indispensable commodities, The coal
IN carried aboard In sacks. while tho
lee ~ transferred by means of chute,
st the upper end Of which n crush
Ing machine. which breaks the blocks
OF Ice into small pieces before allow
Ing them TO travel down into the fore.
hold Of tho cutter" NJ n flah'beaflns
steamer Ia called.
on the following morning VIZ had
plowcd our way out on 10 that part
Of the fishing grounds In which the
fleet had been last heard of. 80
sharp look out was kept. but II was
not until late In the afternoon that the
trawlera were sighted. In thick of
fogsy weather aud. indeed. .TsA IN