i86 FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 



Experience of the "John Dove" — A Tough Time of It. — 'S>c\).. John 

 DovevidLS exposed to the full severity of the gale of Dec. i6th and 17th, on 

 La Have Bank. On the i6th one of the crew named Augustus Brown fell 

 overboard, but being an expert swimmer, kicked off his heavy rubber boots 

 and struck out bravely for the vessel. Ropes and tubs were thrown over 

 from the vessel, but the tide was running strong and the current bore him 

 away from them. The cable was paid out until the vessel backed down to 

 where Brown was swimming, and he was taken on board, after having been 

 in the water about eight minutes. Early on the morning of the 17th a tre- 

 mendous sea broke over the vessel, sweeping the decks, carrying away two 

 companion-ways, smashing dory, staving rail, breaking the wheel-box, de- 

 molishing the cooking stove, and doing other damage. But for the parting 

 of the cable the vessel must have foundered. One of the crew, Maurice Wi- 

 ley, was washed against the companion-way and had his face severely cut. 

 The Dove put into Halifax on the 23d for repairs. She had rough weather 

 all the time after leaving port, being three times blown oif her fishing 

 grounds, once a distance of some seventy-five miles. 



Experience of the "Ruth Groves." — ^ch. Ruth Groves -wzs knocked 

 nearly bottom upward by a heavy sea, her foremast carried away to the 

 deck, and lost mainsail, main-boom, and main-gaff. Two of her crew, Chas. 

 Cook of Lockeport, N. S., and Joseph Teddy of Sydney, C. B., were swept 

 overboard and lost. The crew were obliged to pump and bail all night to 

 keep her free. Some sails were rigged and a drogue put out. They steered 

 for Liverpool, N. S., which they reached after a dangerous passage. Charles 

 McKinney, one of the crew, was thrown out of his berth upon the stove, 

 and was so severely burned that he was sent home in sch. Howard. 



ScH. "Edwin C. Dolliver," Capt. John Thompson, from Western Bank, 

 reported the gales as very severe. Lost three anchors. On the nth of 

 December saw brig lucy in a disabled condition on the southern part of the 

 Bank ; took off her crew of eight men and brought them to this port. The 

 vessel soon after sunk. She was commanded by Capt. James Irving, loaded 

 with coal and potatoes, and bound for Cuba. 



ScH. "RiVERDALE," Capt. Forristall, while lying at anchor on LaHave 

 Bank, in the gale of the 9th of December, was struck by a heavy sea, which 

 swept the decks, smashed three dories and sent them adrift, and carried 

 away everything moveable. The vessel was hove on her beam ends, and 

 the cabin and forecastle filled with water. The cable parted, and the crew 

 shifted the salt and fish in the hold, and the vessel righted. The Riverdale 

 lost her other anchor and cable in the gale of the i6th, and was obliged to 

 put into Halifax for repairs. 



