The Washington herald., 1915-04-04
UNDER FIRE
A North Sea Story
By G. PRATT INSH.

There are poachers on the sea as
we'll as on land. We're it not for
Uncle Sans vigilant protection of the
great seal fisheries off the Alaska
coast the precious fur-bearing animal
would have been extinct long ago.
1t is the duty of the fishery protec-
tion gunboat Weasel to patrol long
stretch of the wind-swept North Sea
wherein the use Of the trawl net il
forbidden.
The steam trawler Dandy Dinmont
was one of the feetest and most fire.
quent offenders against the fishery
laws. Her master. John McMurrich,
and Lieut.. Douglas of the Weasel came
in contact now and then. but their last
encounter put an end to the Dinmonts
depredations. This is how it hap
pened:
StrollinS one forenoon round the
harbor Mchurrich observed the gun
boat safely shored up in the dry dock.
and a closer inspection revealed to
him that some of the plates amidships
that had suffered from the stress of a
long succession of gales. were being
stripped off.
That afternoon. when McMurrich.
from the bridge of the Dandy Dinmont
rang up his engine room, he had Sc
lected fishing ground to which he
would have given a wide berth had
the Weasel been in seagoing trim.
The Dandy Dinmont slipped through
the still harbor water, cleared the
quay head, and lodged a big passen-
ger steamer coming in from the Far
North.
For two hours the tirelcss propeller
drove the trawler northward. The
whole sweep of the bay lay in front
of the trawler. To the south was q
wide stretch of sand backed by the
matted wire grass of the dunes.
Neither the telescope of the coastguard
on the cliff top. nor the angry eyes of
the fishermen at the harbor could
pierce the sacking that yelled the
trawler's identity.
The telegraph wires flashed a mes
sage to the city for the Weasel. The
message brought Douglas. who at
nightfall cycled up the cobble-paved
street and dismounted at the coast
guard station. The petty officer in
charge saluted and gave the particu-
lars. I'VE might have scared her off.
sir" he concluded. but We thought
you might catch her with the Weasel"
Douglas smiled a trife grimIy as he
answered. We'll do our best to catch
her: but the Weasel won't be engaged
thi strip. She's In the inhrmary, so
we'll need boat"
The lieutenant examined the long,
black coast-guard boat lying on the
grass plot at the end of the cottages
"Thisll do. She'll take six oars, and
you number four at the station. Get
hold of three fishermen; they'll be glad
enough to help. Put two to the oars
, and stick one in the bow with q boat
hook. and muffle your oars"
The minutes dragged slowly as they
waited. Then the wind freshened and
brought dark clouds with 1t. The hull
Of the trawler faded into the darkness.
A spray of fine rain was borne along
by the breeze as the little detachment
paraded behind the station. Douglas
felt that the elements were going to
prove favorable. His address was
brief. I'VE have a bit of work cut out
for US. As you know. we want to get
launch 1t from the lifeboat clip. When |
we get into the boat there must not be !
q single sound. Pay no attention IL |
tho hail us. but row Ike steam"
The long. black boat was run quietly !
over wooden rollers down the concrete |
slip at the lifeboat station. Outside |
the rollers were lurching against the |
to foam on the Jagged granite rocks.
The crew entered and the boat
swung on Douglas. sitting in the |
stern sheets and gripping the tiller, !
steered out Of the harbor. As the bow
pounded through the waves . gusty
squan swept down on them. The lieu /
tenant set his course we'll to windward
OF the trawler. and against the breeze \
and the tide crew commenced to pull. |
No telltale sound from the rowlocks /
warned the crew Of the Dfnmont that |
trouble was imminent. In the nasty
sea the lieutenant steered carefully.
Two miles OF switchbacking over the |
waves brought them right to wind. /
ward Of the trawler. Douglas could |