106 FISHERMEN OP THE CTNITED STATES. 



that the masts touch the water. The schooner David A. Story, in December, 1880, got adrift in 

 this manner, and one of her crew reports that in his opinion the anchor caught, and that she 

 shipped a sea which knocked her down, causing her cable to part. Fortunately none of her crew 

 were lost, but the man on watch had his leg broken, the vessel's deck was swept, her foresail 

 split to pieces, fore boom and gaff broken, and 400 fathoms of cable lost. A similar accident 

 occurred to the schooner Andrew Leighton, of Gloucester, December 10, 1876. While adrift she 

 was knocked down by a sea so that, according to the statement of her crew, her mast-heads lay 

 in the water. Fortunately, however, she righted, and ultimately succeeded in reaching home in 

 safety. This vessel was lost in October, 1879, and it may be met her fate in this manner. 



Vessels lying at anchor on the Grand Bank under riding-sail alone are sometimes knocked 

 over by tornadoes. An instance of this kind occurred on the 29th of August, 1876, when the 

 schooner Walter F. Fait, of Gloucester, was blown over. The crew was lost, and the vessel was 

 afterward seen floating upon her side. In the fall of 1875 the schooner Epes Tarr, of Gloucester, 

 anchored on the eastern part of the Grand Bank, was knocked down and dismasted. 



The frequent loss of the rudders of fishing vessels, while at anchor on the Banks, is another 

 danger to which they are liable. Many instances of this kind have occurred. In most cases the 

 fishermen have succeeded in rigging a temporary steering apparatus, by which they have been 

 enabled to reach the home port in safety. Some vessels have been lost through the rudder-braces 

 getting loose, and the consequent wrenching of the rudder-head starting a leak which caused the 

 abandonment of the vessel. An instance of this kind occurred on the Grand Bank in the spring 

 of 1879, when the schooner Edwin 0. Dolliver, of Gloucester, sprung a leak and sunk. Her crew 

 was taken off and brought home by the schooner Thresher, of the same port. In addition to the 

 danger of being knocked over, there is that of shipping a sea while at anchor, which is sometimes 

 attended with serious results, both to the vessels and the men. 



Heavy seas are so often shipped that numerous instances might be cited, but one or two will 

 suffice. In the early part of 1877 the schooner John S. Presson, of Gloucester, while riding out a 

 heavy northwest gale on the western part of the Grand Bank, shipped a sea which swept her decks 

 and injured her about the stern to such an extent that, after the gale abated, she was obliged to 

 put into Halifax for repairs. In January, 1879, the schooner Howard, while at anchor in the deep 

 water on the southern edge of Le Have Eidges, shipped a heavy sea which swept her decks, 

 smashing several of the dories and starting the house on deck, causing her to leak considerably. 



Dahgeks to WHAiiiNa VESSELS. — Whaling vessels are not exposed to so great danger as the 

 merchant vessels passing over the same portions of the ocean. The whalers, while on the cruising 

 grounds, are under short sail and keep a careful lookout, especially at night, when, if there be 

 anything unusual or unexpected, demanding speedy work, all hands can be called, and only a few 

 moments are then required to shorten sail and make everything snug. In thick weather, however, 

 especially on the Arctic grounds, there is greater danger on account of ice and of collision with 

 other vessels. 



Dangers to sealing vessels. — The fur-seal fishery is carried on in the Antarctic Ocean, 

 where the vessels are at all times exposed to sudden changes of wind, and frequently to heavy gales, 

 which unexpectedly overtake them on a lee-shore and sometimes cause their loss. 



The schooners used in the seal fisheries are liable to some of the disasters to which the Glou- 

 cester fishing vessels are subjected, except those accidents caused by carrying too heavy press of 

 sail, for in this respect the seal fishermen exercise more prudence. Sealing schooners are com- 

 pelled to keep comparatively near land, following up the boats sent ashore to take the seals, and 

 are exposed to the dangers of being blown ashore or driven on rocks. In landing boats, sent from 



