The New York herald., 1922-09-03
BY
WILLIAM WILLARD HOWARD

wants TO witness a reat, SURE
enough race between sailing
vessels - blow high, blow low, and
Davy Jones take the hindmost-he
has only to journey to the ancient
and honorable fishing port OF
Gloucester, on Cape Ann, in the State
Of Massachusetts,, on or before the
twelfth day of next month, for, on
that day there will be begun the
trial race to select Americas repre-
sentative in the race for the Fish
ermens International Challenge cup.
1t might be well to go little be-
fore the twelfth. unless the visitor
Is willing to take a chance ct sleep
ing on a bolt of canvas in Cooney's
sail loft, or some such place; for,
assuredly, on race days the friendly
and hospitable city OF Gloucester,
from Eastern Point clear around the
horseshoe harbor to the Reef of
Norman's Woe, will be filled to the
deck beams with strangers from far
and near. The race committee, as
sisted by the Mayor and Chamber Of
Commerce has been busy for sew
erai weeks making up lists of spare
rooms in private houses, but, even
at that, the late arrivals may find
every available sleeping place oc-
cupied by men. women and children
from the Maritime Provinces, OF
Canada
1t might be well, also. for the vis-
tor to make up his mind in advance
to be content with salt Goldfish,
canned lobster and New England
boiled dinners. instead OF the new
caught fish that he naturally might
look forward to in Gloucester; be-
cause no red blooded fishermen can
be expected to waste time in futile
fishing when the blue ribbon of the
Grand Banks is on the knees of the
gods.
For this Ffshermen's International
Challenge Cup Race is race
q 'bankers'-deep sea fishing
schooners that go half a thousand
miles off shore at all seasons of the
year; in fog and rain and snow and
Zee, bowling gales and Arctic cold
q race between grown men. who
never are quite so happy and care
free as when the lee rail is out OF
sight and the green seas wash a foot
deep over the main hatch, and the
cook sings out: There won't be no
table sot; you boys go snug up tn
best you kim
Better ships and better men never
have sailed the seven seas-not even
fn the old days, when tall ships out
of Salem traded for ivory on the
coasts of Africa, or carried Yankee
notions to the far shores of China
will ask you to believe that know
what / am talking about because
during the past eighteen years my
own sailing ships, manned mostly
by Gloucester fishermen, have fought
and conquered hurricanes in the
West Indies; buffeted ice and snow
and raging seas along the coasts ot
Labrador and Newfoundland. and
t1ed for days and nights, under
bare poles before a repetition OF the
gale in which the Apostle Paul wa,
wrecked in the Mediterranean Ions
and long ago. ] know the quality O
Gloucester ships and the quality O
Gloucester men.
The flower of the north Atlanti,
fishing fleet will win the race-n'
less. Seven or eight schooner
probably will enter the trial races
each vessel manned by thirt,
weather bronzed, highly skilled deel
sea fishcrmen-chosen with care an,
deiiberation from among thousand
of eager volunteers. No favoritism
no claim OF friendship, no tie of rela
tionship win influence the selection
OF the racing crews. Each man will
be chosen on his merits.
1t must be done that way; for
look you. the ship that is conin
down from Canada to do battle 70
the cup win take lot of beating