122 PISHEKMBN OF THE UNITED STATES. 



a light rope stretched along the bottom of the dory nearly from stem to stem, being fastened at 

 each end and in the middle to small staples, and with two or three "beckets" large enough for a 

 man's arm. These are preferable to the " plug-beckets " because they enable two or three men to 

 cling to the bottom of one dory, which is sufficiently buoyant to support them without difficulty, 

 but not to allow them to rest upon it. Numerous instances of the preservation of life by the use 

 of this simple means are on record, and it is simple inhumanity to send men away from the vessel 

 in dories which are not equipped with some such means of safety, for it is almost Impossible for a 

 fisherman to retain hold of the smooth slippery bottom of a capsized dory, constantly swept by the 

 breaking seas. The "life-line" was introduced a few years ago, but the "plug-becket" has been 

 in use 10 or 15 years, though not to much extent until recently. These ropes do not impede the 

 speed of the dory, and the only objection ever urged against them is that they interfere with slid- 

 ing the dories about on the decks of the vessels. 



Washed from the boat. — The fishermen are quite often washed out of their dories by 

 breaking seas. In the faU of 1880 Thomas E. Lee, of Gloucester, while engaged in hauling a 

 halibut trawl on the Grand Bank, was struck by a sea and thrown 15 or 20 feet from his dory. He 

 rose to the surface twice, but was so much encumbered by his clothing that he was unable to swim. 

 As he was sinking the third time he caught the trawl, which was fastened to the dory. By means 

 of this he tried to haul himself up, but when still about three fathoms under water one of the hooks 

 caught in his finger and went completely through it. He then grasped the trawl above his head 

 with the other hand and by a sudden jerk tore the hook from his finger. He hauled himself up 

 and reached the gunwale, but just then another hook caught in his clothing, which rendered it 

 difficult for him to get into the boat. He called to his dorymate for help, but the man was too 

 frightened to assist him. By a great effort he pulled himself over the side of the dory and fell 

 down exhausted. This is an instance of the dogged pluck of the typical Gloucester fisherman, for 

 after recovering from the first exhaustion he persisted in hauling his trawl and filling his dory 

 with fish before returning to the vessel. 



Danger from squalls. — While tending their trawls fishermen are liable to be overtaken 

 by heavy squalls, especially in the winter season, and are unable to reach their vessels. Such 

 squalls are particularly dangerous because of the force of the wind, which creates high seas, 

 and they are often accompanied with dense snow, which adds to the anxiety and peril. Instances 

 of this kind are constantly occurring, and afford some of the most exciting episodes in the fisher- 

 man's life, since, in every instance, a determined and heroic effort is made to regain the vessel in 

 spite of the wind and sea. Their efforts are often aided by their shipmates on the vessel, who 

 fasten a line to a dory or buoy and allow it to drift out to the men who are struggling to reach the 

 vessel. Sometimes over a mile of rope is paid out in this manner, which expedient has resulted in 

 the saving of numerous lives. When that is not available the cable has sometimes been cut or 

 the anchor broken out by putting sail on the vessel, which then runs down toward the dory and 

 rescues the men. At night a light is sometimes rigged to the paid-out dory. When all these 

 expedients fail the lost fishermen may be rescued by other vessels in the neighborhood, but too 

 often they drift about for several days before being picked up. Fishermen have been thus adrift 

 for six days without food or water and finally rescued, and many more have perished after drift- 

 ing for a long time or have been soon swamped by the bi-eaking waves. When fishermen are thus 

 adrift and exposed to heavy seas they may succeed in keeping the dory afloat by means of rigging 

 a " drag," a contrivance by which the head of the dory is kept to the wind and sea, and it is thus 

 prevented from swamping. This " drag" is often made of the body of a dead halibut by tying it 

 by the head and tail. A bnoy keg, with a hole in it, which will fill with water and thus present a 



