FISHING DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1929, Page 1

FISHING DISASTER

TRAWLERS LOSE ALL NETS,

[United Press Association—l3y Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

LONDON, Nov. 13

A fishing disaster has occurred, constituting the “worst losses ever known in East Anglia,” says the “Yarmouth Fish Salesman.” “Many of the Scottish fishermen, now on their way home, are ruined. Nearly every one of the.69o Scottish herring boats has lost all its nets, which all are practically uninsured. The Scotsmen usually work on the system of nine or ten men in a crew, sharing ownership' of the nets and gear. The loss is one amounting to £IOO. for each group. The Scotsmen never fish on Sundays, and they are bound to go out on yVlonday. The Yarmouth fishermen escaped the disaster, liecaused they fished on Sunday.” A further loss of life is reported, a Hull fleet trawler losing three overboard, of whom the captain was washed back. The others were not seen again. The disaster is causing a fish shortage.

31,003 NETS LOST. RUGBY, Nov. 13

In the House, of Commons, lit Hen. Air Adamson announced ' a iishhig disaster off the East of England coast on Monday afternoon to the Scottish fishing fleet, which left for the fishing grounds early on Monday morning, before a gale warning reached them. A gale of great fury swept the fleet. Two of the vessels sank. Three lives were lost. Other vessels foundered., Vessels from Lowestoft lost eleven thousand and four hundred vessels from Yarmouth lost twenty thousand nets. The present value of the nets w'as about £90,000. The cost of replacement would be about £150,000.

PARLIAMENT AWED AT NEWS. LONDON, Nov. 13. The news that part of the Scottish herring fleet was limping home from the East Anglian fishing grounds; with lives lost, nets destroyed, and craft battered, came upon the House of Commons with dramatic sudd',.,iness. The house was in the middle of the usual jesting hurlv-hurly of question time, when it was silenced and awed by Rt. Hon. Air Adamson making a revelation of one of the worst fishing disasters for many years. AH Afiller asked if the Government could do something to help the men to replace their gear. Air Adamson said that he was continuing his inquiries. He could not add anything at the present moment. Mr Alberv expressed the House’s sympathy when he suggested that. in view of the magnitude of the disaster, the Lord A'layor of London ought to he approached to open a fund to relieve the fishermen’s distress.