The New York herald., 1922-08-06

ship. owing 10 the great depth OF water
in which she lies.
However, a whole nation is thrilled
expectantly at the prospect. The idea
Is talked aboue In trains and other
places Of congregation and, the exact
contents of the ship wondered" about
inexhaustihly. Pet theories are delivered
and arguments TO support them---on a
mystery. And until the adventure Is
over one way or the other interest VIII
be sustained.
IL is easy TO understand that the great
majority OF steamships travelling from
the British Isles during the war carried
cargoes mainly intended for war
Necessarily these have greatly depre-
ciated in value now and shiploads OF
lead. copper, steel and other metals
which were pouring into the British
ports by the hundreds OF tons would not
be worth the extremely expansive job
OF salvaging.
DUST how many ships have been
rescued from the sea since the ter
mination OF hostilities it is impos-
sible TO ascertain, out certain II Is that
In places like Newcastle at the Tyne
mouth. where the surf runs out tremen-
dous distance almost fiat and where
etwenty-six fathoms Is the greatest
depth for miles out. large numbers of
smaller vessels have been hoisted 10
the top and even have gone into port
under their own steam.
In fact. all down the east coast OF
: England the depth or the sea, though
varying. is not at all great. and
trawlers, small tramp steamships and
such like craft have. so to speak. been
shoveled UP, and in many cases bought
again by their original owners.
Trawiers Suffered Most.
The sinkings all along the east coast
Of England and the losses sustained
form an interesting chapter. BY far
the bulk OF the sinkings along this coast
was among the trawlers OF the local
fishermen. and curious though it may
seem, although these more OF less poor
folk. when they lost a boat lost their
livelihood. taken altogether they lost
very little money when bereft of their
little trawlers. All during the war these
hardy fishermen used TO put out every
day and fish off Whitby, Hartlepool, the
Wash and right down 10 the North Fore
land. Day by day their numbers were
tkinned down, and gradually the price
OF fish rose and rose until really good
and lucky fisherman along the northeast
coast could and did earn up to 900
ia a season.
A fisherman who had couple of sea-
sons of that size, and there were, Of
course, many who had. when he lost
his boat was left much richer man
than he could otherwise have been had
the cause of the sinking OF his boat not
been existent.
A curious feature of these fisher folk
at that time was the fact that though
they were sailing literally in the face of
Providence. and although they knew any
minute they might be blown to atoms,
they seldom insured their boats. When
the war. had been going some time these
mems crafts were taken under the wing
of the British Admiralty, however, and
the Admiralty insured them. In such
cases as that the owners were given the
Original valuing OF their ships at the time
that the Admiralty took them over.
THE east coast of England Is strewn
thickly with sunken trawlers of that de-
scription, many OF which have been torn
tc pieces on the bottom.
There are numerous means OF raising
these smaller craft and even bigger yes
sells. In the big ports goodly sized ships
frequently have been raised by means
of two or more gigantic tanks from
which chains are attached to the ship
1t is intended to lift and then the water
is pumped out OF the tanks and their
carrying capacity lifts the ship off the
bottom The tanks are then drawn by
tugs toward the shore where Is shelves
gradually, and where no such facility Is
offered the chains from the tanks TO the
ship are shortened, pumping operations
are commenced on the ship TO acceler-
ate the lift and the rescued vessel Is
towed into dock.
This Is "A very popular way OF salvag-
ing the smaller tramp vessels which were
caught by the German submarines as
| they stole in and out OF the ports. With
Elarger ships far different methods have
to be adopted. Generally speaking. how
ever, the amount OF salvaging that has
been done around the English coasts
since the war has been chiefly among
the smaller tramp steamers, ordinary
little two, three or four thousand ton
steamers. As can be seen from the maps
dozens OF these smaller ships were sunk
in punches close up TO the coast on all
sides OF the British Isles. Continuous
operations in one spot cut down the
initial expenses considerably and two
or three vessels and sometimes more
have been salvaged or holsted In one
operation.
However, Of the 100000 tons OF Brit
ish ships sunk by the Germans during
the war IL would be safe to say In the
absence or actual figures that 15 per
cent. still remain a. the bottom OF tho
uavpn seas