FISHERMEN IN WAR TIME 



When the unrestricted operations of the German 

 submarines began early in 1917 there were many 

 losses of fishing vessels. The losses were very 

 heavy in March and April, being 40 and 38 respec- 

 tively ; they became much lighter in the summer 

 months, possibly because the Germans found bigger 

 ships to operate against. In May the fishing craft 

 lost numbered 23 ; other totals were : June, 23 ; 

 July, 15; August, 5; September, 7; October, 5. 

 The total losses from February 25 to December 22, 

 inclusive, were 167. The total for fifty-eight weeks 

 was 198. 



No feelings of humanity were allowed to interfere 

 with the murderous work which the German sub- 

 marine commanders had been ordered to carry out. 

 These craven craft often worked at long distances 

 from the German bases, and their crews had not the 

 slightest disposition to accept any risk in adhering 

 to the unwritten immemorial laws which had ruled 

 at sea amongst combatants. 



No parallel for the German ferocity was to be 

 found except in the black annals of piracy. The 

 German submarines lay in wait off peaceful ports 

 for inoffensive fishing craft, and these, as a ruli, 

 they sank at sight, leaving the crews to take the 

 meagre chance of salvation which a small boat or a 

 piece of wreckage afforded. 



In the winter of 1916 no fewer than sixteen fishing 

 vessels were lost through enemy action off a quiet 

 West Coast fishing port. The vessels were merely 

 fishing in the ordinary way ; but that did not secure 



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