FISHERMEN IN WAR TIME 



have reflected greatly upon those in charge of the 

 trawlers ; but it is not true. 



" I have heard and seen the witnesses and con- 

 sidered the documents, and I have no hesitation in 

 arriving at the conclusion that the master and crew 

 of the Carrie refused to return to the ship. I do not 

 blame them. They had been ordered by the enemy 

 to quit the ship ; they had a cargo on board which 

 made them peculiarly liable to attack, and if the 

 submarine again found them on board and on their 

 way to France they would have got very short 

 shrift. I am satisfied that these considerations and 

 their experiences of the day before had unnerved 

 the master and made him only too glad to leave 

 himself and the Carrie to the care of the trawlers. 



" The Fusilier then put out her boat and sent the 

 second hand and three men on board the Carrie — 

 with the swell, and with no one on board the Carrie, 

 it was naturally a work of some risk to get on board 

 — and it was found that the fires had burnt out and 

 there was no steam in the Carrie's engines. A haw- 

 ser was passed and the Fusilier made fast. About 

 8 o'clock the Fusilier began to tow, with the Kin- 

 aldie accompanying as escort. About 9 o'clock the 

 hawser parted and the Kinaldie made fast and began 

 to tow about 9.45, Math the Fusilier accompanying 

 as escort. At 3.15, outside Falmouth, the Fusilier 

 also made fast to assist to steer. At 5 o'clock the 

 Carrie was brought to a safe anchorage in Falmouth 

 Harbour. 



" The case would be a simple one but for the con- 



128 



