72 NORTH SEA FISHERS AND FIGHTERS 



bow and one the stern, so that a watchful eye can 

 be kept on the seas that charge from all quarters 

 simultaneously. But iron nerve, giant strength, and 

 wondrous skill at times availed nothing a snarling 

 comber came, and, when it had roared past, the boat 

 had capsized and the men were struggling in the 

 savage seeth. Short the fight must needs be, for 

 the fisherman's heavy clothing and ponderous boots 

 bore him down, and, unless help was just at hand, he 

 was doomed. Help, if near, is never withheld, and 

 in giving it to-day, as in the time of sail, North Sea 

 men perform deeds of valour that put to shame many 

 of the acts, some of them brave enough, many of 

 them paltry, which ashore are so lavishly praised and 

 generously acknowledged. 



In one of the fleets three men hastened to the 

 rescue of two who were struggling for life. In a 

 moment they themselves were the victims of the fierce 

 waters and all the five were drowned. In the Short 

 Blue Fleet I spoke with a skipper who was collecting 

 money for the relatives of three members of his crew 

 who were swept from their boat the first day they 

 joined the fleet for the eight weeks' trip after the 

 brief visit home. The accident happened on a fine 

 morning, and the men were drowned before the 

 skipper's eyes, and almost within reach of a carrier ; 

 but the sea had grown so suddenly that it was im- 

 possible to give any help. On one February morning 

 seven men were drowned in the Great Northern 

 Fleet through the capsizing of their boats, and two 

 were lost in the Grimsby Fleet making nine in one 

 morning. The total number of lives lost in the 



