FISHERMEN IN WAR TIME 



tured, with her crew of nine, and seven trawlers 

 missing, probably lost with all hands — of these seven 

 vessels five had a crew of nine, one of ten, and one 

 of twelve ; five trawlers were reported sunk through 

 mines, one vessel losing seven out of nine men, and 

 another six out of nine. In another ease one man 

 only was lost, eight being saved. 



These figures showed the uncertain action of 

 mines. A mine exploding might and often did cause 

 the total disappearance of a vessel and her crew, it 

 might badly damage a ship and kill and maim some 

 of her people, or it might do serious but not irrepar- 

 able mischief, and yet spare the crew altogether. 

 Much depended on the part of the vessel which was 

 struck — and mines exploded everywhere. 



That early list, heavy and serious, was soon en- 

 larged, and it grew steadily as the war proceeded. 

 Similar lists relating to other ports increased in 

 proportion, but never was even a murmur heard of 

 ceasing or slackening the efforts which were being 

 made at sea to hold the enemy in check and crush 

 him ; never a thought disturbed the fishermen, com- 

 batant or non-combatant, except that of " sticking 

 it " and final victory. 



The first Christmas of the war brought heavy 

 shadows to many trawlers' homes. The German 

 mine-laying after the raid on Scarborough was un- 

 doubtedly the cause of many losses amongst trawlers 

 and sweepers. The news of the loss of the Ocana, 

 through a mine, reached Grimsby on Christmas 

 Eve, just as preparations had been made for the 



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