FISHERMEN IN WAR TIME 



In addition to being well fed, the fisherman, as a 

 rule, was thoroughly well clad, and he had need 

 to be that to withstand the onslaughts of prolonged 

 bitter weather on the North Sea. For his fleeting 

 or single-boating work the fisherman had an ample 

 supply of boots and clothing, a very adequate kit ; 

 yet it happened in many cases that he lost the whole 

 of these personal belongings when he lost his liberty 

 and that he was not able to get compensation. In 

 some cases he went into captivity a ruined man, and, 

 in the rare event of being given his liberty because 

 he was considered to be past the power of hurting 

 Germaivy, he had to make a fresh start in life on 

 returning home. 



The fishermen prisoners of war were almost with- 

 out exception in Germany, a few of them being 

 captives in Austria. This proportion was inevit- 

 able, for it was mostly the Germans with whom the 

 fishermen came into contact. Rigorous and cruel 

 treatment of fishermen prisoners of war was com- 

 mon at the very outset of hostilities, and these cruel- 

 ties were practised in defiance of all protests and in 

 opposition to all the laws of civilised warfare ; little 

 or no difference being made between peaceful fisher- 

 men and recognized combatants. Everything in the 

 internment camps was subordinated to the law of 

 might, and in the winter months the sufferings of 

 the captives were intense. 



At the earliest opportunity steps were taken by 

 the Mission to alleviate these hardships. The ordi- 

 nary resources of the society were utilised, then, as 



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