The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-11-11

presented to Dr. Grenfell by an
 American friend and the auxiliary
 yawls, Yale and Andrew J. McCosh
 presented by American college stu
 dents, show that Dr. Grenfeiis work
 has found appreciation in this coun-
 try.
 But the American fisherman's only
 chance to obtain medical relief on Banquereau, St. Pierre Bank and the Grand Banks is when small hos
 pital ship maintained by charity and
 by a small grant from the French government makes her summer visits to the fishing grounds. At other times on these banks and at all times
 on banks which lie nearer home no medical aid whatever is available in time of need. The injured man must grit his teeth and bear it with the chance of being permanently crip-
 pied increasing every minute, and the man stricken with sudden illness must console himself with the reflec- tion that perhaps he has one of those diseases which doctors cannot cure anyway. Often it happens that after a week or more has been spent In securing bait and a good berth and when all is in readiness for the real work of catching fish to begin, man will suddenly need medical care. The schooner is headed for a Nova Scot ian port or for home, the bait is 
 is lost and eighteen men lose the proceeds of the trip for fishermen share in the sum left after the own er's share and the expenses have been met.
 Tn looking about for remedy the most significant fact is that the deep sea fisherman is already 8 beneficiary of the United States Government. :. The United States Marine Hospital service was established in 1798 to care for sick and disabled American seamen, and for a number of years this relief has been extend- ed to deep-sea fishermen. In the wards of the United States marine hospitals can be seen the results of the failure to obtain treatment in time. Dr. l.. l.. Williams, the sur geon ir command of the United presented to the surgeon general plan to extend the work of the ma rine hospital service so as to give re- lief to the fisherman when 1t will do him the most good.
 It is proposed to build a schooner of the best type, provide her with ample auxiliary power, fit her with a complete little hospital amtdships and with all the equipment necessary for giving medical aid at sea, and to send her out to patrol watery beat which will bring her into communities ton at frequent intervals with the deep-sea fishermen of New England from The Georges to Banquereau in winter and to the Grand Banks in Summer. Manned by a skipper and 3 crew who have been fishermen and who know the banks as a landsman knows his own back yard, it would be possible to cruise to such advantage that 90 per cent: of the vessels in this wide area could be spoken in clear weather.
 It is, of course, for Congress to say whether this plan can be carried put or not. It has been shown in other countries that the part of the loss which is due to the lack of med cal care can be greatly reduced. If It is possible for an initial expendi- ture of $25,O00 and for an annual outlay of from $10,000 to $12,000 to keep a thoroughly efficient hospital schooner on the American banks the year around, 1t is difficult to think of an adequate reason for deferring such relief much longer.