The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1912-1921, 1918-09-24
ARE DETERMINED TO CARRY ON
OCCUPATION AND HOPE TO =.
COPE WITH THE ENEMY.
THE EFFECT PRODUCED BY THE
GERMANS WAS EXACT OP-
POSITE OF THAT DESIRED.
EVIDENTLY HOPED TO FORCE
WITHDRAWAL OF TRANS
PORT PROTECTION.

lection and we will keep up the food
fish supply so long as there is one
vessel left afioat in the North ATTAIN
tic" is the answer of Gloucester ship
owners and fishermen to the German
submarine raid on portions of the
North Atlantic fishing fleet in July
and August a
II the enemy planned his descent
on these helpless craft for it's psy-
Geological effect he certainly achiev-
ed his aim, but the effect was the
opposite from what he sought In
stead OF being intimidated by the
sinking of many of their vessels, the
salty mariners of Gloucester-and
this is true of other parts as we'll
have set their teeth and by word and
act have shown their determination
to continue business as usual"
In the period covered by the raid,
from July % to August rs, twenty
nine fishing vessels were sunk by the
Germans, some by shellfire, others by
bombs, and at least one, according to
its captain, by torpedo. Al part of
the fleet was sent to the bottom by
the trawler Triumph, which was seiz-
ed by a German submarine and pro-
yided with crew and armament. The
fishing craft ranged in size from the
tiny Reliance, OF 10 tons, one of the
swordfishermen sunk on the Georges
Bank, to the Eric, of 600 tons, sent
down south of the Island of Mique
ion, far to the northwest of New
England waters. Most of them were
of American registry, chiefly owned
lin Gloucester or Boston, but a few
hailed from Canadian and Newfound
land ports, principally Lunenburg, N
Is.
The sunken vessels totalled 361t
tons, with an estimated value OF
more than 100000. The insurance
which the owners were able to collect
was little more than so per cent OF
this. Moreover, the replacement
cost, under present conditions, would
in many cases be more than double
the amount which was required tC
build these craft. 1t is figured that a
vesse. which cost $4,000 a few years
ago could not be replaced now fol
less than $4,000.
The losses, however, have been
we'll distributed The Gorton4PeM
Vessels Company of this city, was
robbed of the greatest number oil
vessels, but the Chisholm Corpora
ton, also OF Glouceser, which lost
two modern schooners, sustained the
heaviest individual 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 skilful har
poon of the swOrdfsh hunter, was re
turned to the deep. The 20 vessels
sunk were capable of an annual pre-
duction of about six million pounds
of fish.
/! Vessel owners here are hoping that
the financial problems involved in
maintaining the fishing fleet at the
highest point az numbers and eff
iciency will be solved by the extern
sion 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 hem, 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 ves-
sells, they could at least attempt to
hit back in case of a submarine at
tack. Their point of view has been
explained to the Navy Department by
Captain Clayton Morrissey o. the
beam tTawler 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 pro-
per calibre and | will buy them N.Y.
self, if only men can be furnished
me to find the range and fire the
guns. realize what is going on
over there and | am willing to take
chance and do my share over here. ;
They can get me or III get them if
/ can get the armament"