The Detroit times., 1915-11-18
Seaman's Law Is Too
Much for Taurus, Be-
loved of Anglers
CARRIED PARTIES
FOR 13 YEARS
Some Old IzZaks Shed
Tears When Ship Is
Laid Up

NEW YORK, Nov. 1s.-The Iron
Steamboat Taurus, beloved OF deep
sea fishermen in this city and the
surrounding country for more than
dozen years, has made her fare
well voyage TO the fishing banks out
side OF Sandy Hook. A northwest
gale sang a requiem to the sea,
which expressed it's emotion by in.
Vulnerable white caps and shed salt
tears In showers OF spray. Attend
Ing the ceremony were 1873 mourn
ers. II was indeed much like a
funeral assemblage. True. there
were smiles and laughter, but back
OF them was regret that was almost
grief.
Nearly all OF the 1876 were "regu-
lars" some OF whom had been daily
passengers since the boat made her
first trip l3 years ago, To them
II was like saying goodby TO an old
home. Besides the daily regulars,
there we're trtweekly regulars,
Wednesday regulars. Saturday regu-
lars. Sunday regulars. Among the
Wednesday regulars were many wo-
men, mainly OF German birth or
descent, who came. some with their
husbands. others without. These al.
ways looked forward to their ap-
pointed trips with impatient antici-
patton.
The daily regulars. more than 240
in all, had lockers on the boat in
which they kept their tackle and
fishing raiment. To each of them a
postal card had been addressed with
the following announcement:
Taurus goes out OF commission
for the season on account OF Sea-
mems Bill on Nov. 3. You are here
by notified TO remove all your effects
from locker on or before that date"
One man on receipt OF the postal,
called up the ONCE 10 inquire IL the
announcement was serious. and ac-
cording TO his own acknowledgment,
when assured It was serious, his
eyes filed with tears. Heretofore
when the boat was laid up for the
winter because of bad weather the
regulars were allowed to leave their
effects in the lockers.
Along with the general regret at
the passing OF the Taurus, there
went a good deal OF Indignation at
the new Seamen's law. Under it's
provisions the Taurus would have to
carry l!feboats enough TO sccommo-
date every person aboard and two
able seamen to man each toat. That,
according to President Fred A.
Bishop OF the Iron Steamboat com
pany would mean conhscation OF the
vessel. so she must go out OF bust.
ness. incidentally. IL was pointed
out that In all her I3 years OF sea
going she had never met with an
accident OF any kind.
The weather on her last trip did
not favor fishing. The gale, besides
kicking UP choppy sea, made the
boat sway so badly that the lines
could not hold bottom and many rigs
were lost by hitching In the rocks.
so few fish were caught. But on this
trip 1t was not fish that the Usher
men were after 80 much rs part.
ing ovation 10 the dear old boat,
coupled with an opportunity To pack
up for q much regretted move. Long
before the signal for returning home
was giyen-the signal being a pro-
longed wall OF the boats whistle
the majority OF the fishermen had
taken In their lines and turned 10
packing up.
II was a mournful procession that
filed up to Purser Harry CRAFTS
ONCE on the way home to surrender
the locker KEYS.
well. goodby. Harry" was the
parting sautation. Sorry to part
with -yau.-Rnt II we do get going
again, can get back the same lock
err"
To which Harry's invsriable re-
sponse was: "Of course you cam"
Harry was smiling, but inwardly
he was genuinely blue. He said the
LAYING up Of the boat would throw AT
least 81 men out of work.
on the Hook on the return trip
the Taurus passed feet OF small
fishing boats anchored OF part OF
the beach known as the "Cedars."
Capt. Allen gave them parting
salute OF three whistles. which they
acknowledged 10 various ways as
best they could. thus manifesting
their feelings at the loss OF an old
friend.