CHAPTER IX 



ARMED TRAWLERS AND SALVAGE. 



Very often, in the days before the war, steam 

 trawlers did uncommonly brave and skilful salvage 

 work. These warriors of the storms were here, 

 there and everywhere upon the home and distant 

 waters, and if such a desirable thing as a lame 

 duck was seen that prize was mercifully swooped 

 down upon and, if tenacity and pluck could get it 

 into port, the helpless vessel was towed or otherwise 

 taken into the sheltering haven. 



First of all things in the mind of the deep sea 

 fisherman was the wish to save his fellow-mortals, 

 for he knew so well what it meant to be the victim 

 of the gales and fogs and accidents. In many cases 

 the matter began and ended there, and fine acts were 

 never more than orally recorded, to become legend- 

 ary in fleets and fishing ports. 



There was much of the spirit of a lift-on-the-way 

 shown, much of the display of the brotherhood of 

 the sea ; succour and salvation by men who knew 

 that in the hour of their own extremity the helping 

 hand would be stretched forth even as their own had 

 been. But there was always the knowledge that if 



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