The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-19

(Exclusive Service The Survey Press
 Bureau)
 Every August a company of sad faced men and women and curious summer boarders gather in Gloucester to take part in a ceremony such as can be wit messed nowhere else in the United States. It is the annual ceremony for the deep sea fisherman wto have perish ed at sea. Not more than 6,o0o men go Tout from Gloucester to the deep sea fisheries, yet during the last ten years the names of more than 600 Gloucester fishermen have been read at these ser vices. In time of war such a loss would fill the land with mourning; but in Gloucester it is simply counted as the cost of a peaceful industry.
 This toll of the sea from those who gather her harvest is not all, for other brave men were lost whose names were not read at the services and for whom no flowers were strewn by children upon the receding tide. These fishermen died in bed in marine hospitals attended by nurses and provided with many com forts. Yet they lost their lives through the dangerous nature of their calling, just as certainly as their comrades in the dories that went astray or in the banks. Many of them died from illness which the resources ,of modern medicine. if thev can be applied in time, are quite sufficient to cure. Besides those who die, many fishermen are badly mained through infected wounds which could be treated so successfully were they re- ceived ashore, that only the slightese permanent effects would follow them.
 When a giant sea boards the little schooner, broken bone or two Is very likely to be included in the wreckage. Fractures which have to be neglected for days and even weeks until port is reached have a very different outlook from those which are promptly cared for.
 The lists which are read at Gloucester tell of loss of life which is inevitable. But it is a belief of those who have the welfare of the fishermen at heart, that the list of deaths, and the much longer one of men disabled, which are no longer read at memorial services, are no long CT than they need be. Although the deep sea fishermen cannot come to the hospital in time for more than a small part of the relief the hospital can afford him, there is way of sending the hos pital to him.
 In other countries where deep sea fish, ing Is an important industry, the need for providing medical and surgical aid
 
 the agencies for relief are well estab- lished institutions. It is rather sur prising fact that no steps have yet been taken to do for the American fisherman what Is done in England by the Roya National mission for the deep sea fish, ermen, in French possessions by the Societe des Oeuvres de Mer. and in New Foundland and Labrador by Dr. Grenfell In the North Sea the Royal National Mission maintains three hospitals and foul dispensary ships which gave medical re- 1 lief last year to more than 12,000 men Many of those who were dangerously II were carried to hospitals ashore in com | fort and safety. Instead of 200-mils | tourney, every mile bringing new tor.
 lures for bodily injured men, treatment | Is commenced at once and fishermen
 who in the old days would have beer reduced to the work house, live to wall
 the deck again.
 Since 1892 pr. Grenfell has performed { similar service for the fisherman of New fcundland and Labrador. Within the las | few weeks a fine new auxiliary schooner
 has been presented to Dr. Grenfell by al American friend and the auxiliary yawls vale and Andrew J. McCosh presented b.
 American college students, show that pr | Crenfelrs work has found appreciation Il | this country. liFi.'
 Put the American fishermans onl, | chance to obtain medical relief on Ban | ouerau. St. Pierre Bank and the Gran Banks Is when a small hospital ship main tained by charity and by small gran from the French government makes he summer visits to the fishing grounds. A | other times on these banks and at al times on banks which lie nearer home n | medical aid whatever Is available in tim of need. The injured man must grit hi teeth and bear 1t with the chance of bein permanently crippled increasing ever minute. and the man stricken with sud den illness must console himself with tn reflection that perhaps he has one O those diseases which doctors cannot cur anyway Often 1t happens that after week or more has been spent in seciirin bait and a good berth and when all in readiness for the real work of catch ing fish to begin. man will suddenl need medical care. The schooner is head ed for a Nova Scotian port or for hom' Il the bait is thrown overheard, the goo
 'bertfl' is lost and 18 men lose the pro
 ceeds of the trip, for fishermen share 1
 the sum left after the owners share an the expenses have been met.
 In looking about for q remedy the mot significant fact is that the deep sea fish
 er,nan Is already a beneficiary of tn United states government. The Unite
 States Marine hospital service was estas
 iisbed In 17pe to care for sick and disable T American merchant seamen. and for number of years this relief has been a 4r< Sal.v AahorFno9 y0 @fY1