NORTH SEA MEN AND THE NAVY 353 



in the main essentials, and they form a body which would 

 prove of inestimable value in case of conflict between 

 Great Britain and Germany. 



In view of the alteration of our fighting basis from 

 the Mediterranean to the North Sea, with a great naval 

 base at Rosyth, the time has come for a complete work- 

 ing understanding between the Royal Navy and the men 

 of the North Sea, for the establishment of what might 

 be called a North Sea Auxiliary, the backbone of which 

 should be the trawlers. 



The North Sea fleeter spends his life practically 

 afloat ; at the outside he has not more than three full 

 weeks ashore, so that he lives in the confined space 

 of the little steamboat a craft, say, no ft. long and 

 2 1 ft. broad his only change corning when he ferries the 

 fish to the carrier, or visits the Mission vessel which is 

 stationed with his fleet. He has to ride out the bitterest 

 and most dangerous gales and to endure hardships which 

 are unknown to ordinary seamen and have no existence 

 in the Royal Navy. The North Sea man, especially if 

 he is a skipper or a mate, knows his ground thoroughly, 

 and with the help of the lead can locate his position with 

 unerring accuracy ; and he is learned in the wisdom of 

 the weather and the tides. He is a skilled North Sea 

 pilot and in many cases has an intimate knowledge of 

 many of those seaboard places which are so zealously 

 guarded by the Germans. This special knowledge alone 

 would make him an invaluable auxiliary to the Royal 

 Navy ; and it would well repay the country to retain his 

 expert services for use in time of need. 



A register could be formed and kept of suitable men 

 for this branch of the North Sea Auxiliary, giving a 

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