118 FISHERMEN OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Bucksport, Me., a few years later, while lying in Prospect Harbor, Nova Scotia. All of tbe crew 

 except the captain had gone to the wreck of the steamer Atlantic, a few miles distant from the 

 harbor. The fire broke out iu the forecastle. It was first observed by the crews of seme vessels 

 near by, and they proceeded to the rescue. Although the fire was well under way, they sue 

 ceeded iu extinguishing it by cutting holes through the deck, but not before the vessel was badly 

 damaged. 



Instances of vessels having been struck by lightning are not at all rare, but as a general thing 

 they are only dismasted or receive some other slight injuries. There are a few cases, also, where 

 some of the crew have been very seriously injured. 



DANGERS OF ATTACKS FROM MARINE ANIMALS. 



Eishing vessels are liable to attacks from whales and swordfish. In the "History of the Sword- 

 fish"* iustances are recorded of attacks upon vessels by swordfish. Many of the New England 

 fishermen have their stories of swordfish striking their vessel. A New London fisherman of 

 many years' experience states that there are several broken swords in the hull of his vessel. The 

 danger from these attacks is from leaks, which have sometimes resulted iu much damge. 



Whales have been known to strike and cause the destruction of merchant and whaling ships, 

 but we have no record of such disaster to fishing craft. "The Fisheries from 1623 to 1876," pub- 

 lished at Gloucester, gives the particulars of a vessel of that port being towed by a whale. The 

 fluke of the anchor caught iu the blow-hcle of the whale, and the frightened animal rushed through 

 the water with the vessel in tow. It became necessary to cut the cable in order to save several of 

 the crew, who were away from the vessel hauling their trawls. In 1878 the ship Columbia was 

 sunk off the Newfoundland Banks by a blow from a whale. The crew took to the boats, and were 

 rescued by Captain Deddes, of the steamer P. Caland. The story of the loss of the whaleship 

 Essex in the southern seas is one of the most familiar in the annals of the whale fishery. " The 

 boats of the Essex had killed the calf of a whale, when the mother, apparently understanding 

 their connection with the ship, attacked it, retreating about a mile to get headway, and striking 

 the vessel on the bows, staving iu its timbers and making a hole so large that it was useless to 

 attempt to stop the leak." The crew took to the boats, and were finally picked up. 



DANGERS FROM THE DEFECTS OF BAD CONSTRUCTION OR FROM AGE. 



Although the majority of the fishing vessels are as substantially built as any in the world and 

 are well calculated in this respect to withstand the strains which may be brought to bear upon 

 them, vet unprincipled builders sometimes take advantage, when building a vessel for sale, to 

 slight them in certain particulars. These may be briefly mentioned as — (1) by putting in defective 

 timber or planks; (2) by insufficient fastening; and (3) by alack of care in calking the vessel. 



If to these defects are also added others in the rigging of the vessel, it follows as a matter of 

 course that she is poorly calculated to withstand the vicissitudes and perils incident to the pursuit 

 of the fisheries. Vessels of this kind are sometimes built to be sold at a cheap rate, but such a 

 practice is entirely wrong, for it exposes the lives of many men to the danger of being lost at sea. 

 There should be provision lor the legal punishment of those who engage in such nefarious enter- 

 prises. 



Defects are, however, more frequently to be met with in old vessels, which are in some cases 

 sent to sea as long as it is possible !o obtain a crew for them, and it is to be wondered at that 

 more fatal disasters have not resulted from such a practice. There is no doubt that the cause of 



Report U. 8. Pisl: I ionor, Part \ 111. 1680. 



