The Cordova daily times., 1918-09-26
WANT TO ARM
 TRAWLERS OF
 THE ATLANTIC

HLoUCES fR, MASS, sept. 70. - Give us suitable measure of pro lection and we will keep up the food supply so long as there is one vessel left afloat in the North Atlantic" is the answer of Gloucester ship own CTS and fishermen to the German sub marine raid on portions of the North Atlantic fishing fleet in July and Au gust.
 If the enemy planned his descent on these helpless craft for its psy chologiCal effect he certainly achieved his aim, but the effect was the Op- posite from what he sought. Instead of being intimidated by the sinking of many of their vessels, the salty mariners of Gloucester-an this is true of other parts as well-have set their teeth and by word and act have shown their determination to con tinue business as usual"
 In the period covered by the raid, from July 22 to August 26, twenty nine fishing vessels were sunk by the Nti IlldilS, Solilt DS SutllliIt oJltlo by bombs. and at least one, according to it's captain, by q torpedo. part of the fleet was sent to the bottom by the trawler Triumph, which was i seized by a German submarine and | provided with crew and armament. | The fishing craft ranged in size from | the tiny Reliance, of l9 tons. one of | the swordfishermen sunk on the Geor ges bank, to the Eric. of GOO tons. l sent down south of the Island of Miquelon, far to the northeast of the ! New England waters. Most of them l were of American registry, chiefly l owned in Gloucester or Boston, but a few hailed from Canadian and New foundland ports, principally Lunch | burg, N. s.
 The sunken vessels totalled 3.6l6 , tons, with an estimated value of more . than S90O.000 The insurance which 1 the owners were able to collect was little more than 90 per cent of this. Moreover, the replacement cost, un- der present conditions, would in great many cases be more than dou- ble the amount which was required to build these craft, It is figured that vessel which cost $l5,OOO few years ago could not be replaced now for less than $35,OO0.
 The losses, however, have been we'll distributed The Gorton-Pew Vessels company of this city was robbed of the greatest number of vessels, but the Chisholm Corporation. also of Gloucester. which lost two modern schoooners, sustained the heaviest in dividual financial damage.
 About one million pounds of fish, most of which had been caught by the toilsome methods of the hand liner or captured by the skillful har poon of the swordfish hunter, was returned to the deep. The 29 vessels sunk were capable of an annual pro duction of about six million pounds of fish
 Vessel owners here are hoping that the financial problems involved in the maintaining of the fishing fleet at the highest point of numbers and efficien- cy will be solved by the extension of aid by the federal war risk insurance bureau Negotiations to this end are well under way.
 Owners, masters and fishermen are gratified at the steps taken by the navy department to protect the fleet. Many of them, however. would like to have their craft armed. so that in stead of being forced to stand by idle and watch the enemy sink their yes sels, they could at least attempt to | hit back in case of submarine at | tack. Their point of view has been | explained to the navy department by | Captain Clayton Morrissey of the | beam trawler Walrus.
 Man my craft with guns and gun | ners," Captain Morrissey told the de- partment. "or if this is impossible | tell me where l can buy guns of the | proper calibre and will buy them myself, If only men can be furnished | me to find the range and fire the guns I realize what Is going on over there and I am willing to take a chance and do my share over here They can get me or I'll get them if