FISHERMEN IN WAR TIME 



This increase proved satisfactory to a number of 

 owners who felt that with their craft employed in 

 the ordinary way of fishing they could have made 

 large sums of money; as it was, they had the fur- 

 ther comfort of being assured that their ships were 

 doing invaluable service in the interests of the 

 country, and that in the numerous important ways 

 in which they were employed they were of greater 

 value than if they had been fishing with a fleet or 

 engaged in single-boating. 



There were here and there dubious hearts amongst 

 the fishermen ; but these were very rare, and the 

 instances related almost exclusively to men who 

 were in the service from necessity and not from the 

 choice which prompted most of the men to go to sea 

 and brave its dangers. It was the old Dogger spirit 

 that filled the fishermen who were doing naval work 

 and made them fearlessly confront every peril. And 

 some did this who might well have claimed rest 

 ashore ; but they were not to be denied an outlet for 

 their abundant energy and loyalty. Numbered 

 amongst these determined souls was a man whose 

 case was uncommonly amusing, but at the same 

 time compelled great admiration. He told the tale 

 himself. 



" I'm a curiosity," said the fisherman, who was 

 full of cheerfulness and humour. 



" You don't look it," he was told. 



" I'm a curiosity," he persisted, " an' I'll tell 

 you why an' show you, then you'll see. I'm in the 

 Navy. I volunteered at the beginnin' of the war. 



44 



