The New York herald., 1921-10-16
By JAMES B. CONNOLLY.

A MEXICAN Bank nShermen were al
n ways weatherly vessels; they had
to be to live through the heavy
going that fell to them on the Banks in
winter, but they did not become such no
tably fast vessels as to stand in a class by
themselves until after the development OF
Boston into great fresh fish market.
Gloucester was primarily salt fish port;
it is still the great salt fish port of the
United States, and most of the old Bank
ers were built to go salt fishing, and If
they did take a couple of weeks to come
home against Northwestern, why no great
harm-salt fish could keep.
But fresh fish in the hold, even with
plenty of ice aboard, was liable to spoil,
especially in hot weather, and besides that
there was the matter of top prices in the
market. Being first 'or last of the fleet
home sometimes meant the difference be-
tween money enough 20 keep mans fam
lily going for two months or so and not
making enough to pay expenses.
Drive for Home in a Breeze
Real Test of the Fisherman
regular thing, and they had to be able as
well as fast because that drive to market
had to be made in bad weather as well as
fine. When two great sail carriers came
together for drive to market in a breeze
of wind there was always something for
the crews to think about
have had airplane and airship expert
ence, been down in submarines and tried
Co. a,,I
Olympic athletic championships, have
heard the enemy shells bursting over my
head and the enemy fire whistling around
my ears. l have tried many kinds of ad-
venturing since was boy, but easily the
most exciting item l have to record is
drive to market with Gloucester or Bos-
ton sail carrier in heavy weather
Those were the trips, when you were
likely to be hove from your bunk to the
lockers any minute of the day or night,
when men to the wheel were always lashed,
when the men on forward watch tucked
themselves under the lee of the windward
dories and never let go their grip of the
dory gripes, when hungry men who bunked
in the cabin had to watch for an hour
sometimes before making their life and
death dash to the fo'csle for bite to eat.
Lively?
There were men brought up to the sea
who found it altogether too lively for a
steady living. Tommie Bohlen, skipper of
the Mamie Bohlen, and Joe Rowe Of the
Joseph Rowe, two famous sail carriers,
once drove home together from the Grand
Banks. They were hardly tied up to the
dock in Gloucester when two men came
running up the wharf from them They
almost ran over Mr.. Jordan, who was part
owner of both vessels.
What's your hurry?" asked Mr. Jordan
I'm through"
What vessel you in?" asked Mr.. Jordan.
The Rowe"
What's the matter with Captain Rowe
don't you like him."
Captain Rowes one of the best men ever
lived. I never hope to meet a better man
than Captain Rowe"
And what's your trouble?"-to the other
Don't you like Captain Bohlen?"
The Lord never made finer man than
Captain Bohlen Not thing he's got he
wouldn't give one of his crew if they
asked him"
Then what's the trouble?
"Oh-m-m-well, the Bohlen and the
Rowe just been comm along together three
days and nights from the Banks-and some
of the old gang said Captain Bohlen wasn't
carrying sail. Wait till it's real rough and
he'll show you some real sail tarryin they
said, and I don't want to be aboard her
when it's real rough"
THE same way in the Rowe said the
other one. II don't want any more sail
carrying passages with Captain Rowe"