FISHERMEN RUINED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 821, 15 November 1929, Page 9

FISHERMEN RUINED

SHIPS LIMP HOME AFTER BATTLE WITH GALE DISASTER TO SCOTSMEN LONDON, Wednesday. News to the effect that part of the Scottish herring fleet was limping home from the Hast Anglican fishing grounds with lives lost, nets destroyed and craft battered, came upon the House of Commons today with dramatic suddenness. The members were in the middle of the usual jesting hurly-burly of question time when they were silenced and awed by the revelation by* the Secretary for Scotland, Mr. W. Adam-i son, of one of the worst fishing dis- j asters for many years. After his announcement Mr. Adam- j son was asked if the Government I I could not do something to help the | men to replace their gear. In reply ; ihe said he was continuing his in- ' ! quiries and could not add anything I ! at present. Mr. I. J. Albery, Conservative mem- ! her for Gravesend, expressed the sympathy of the House. It was suggested that in view of the magnitude of the disaster the | Lord Mayor of London ought to be I approached to open a fund to relieve the fishermen's distress. “The disaster entails the worst losses ever' known, in East Anglia,” said a Yarmouth fish salesman. “Many Scottish fishermen are going home ruined. Nearly every one of the 690 Scottish herring boats lost all their nets, which were practically uninsured.” Scotsmen usually work on a system ! of 9-10ths of the profits to the crew j who share in the ownership of the nets and gear. The loss will amount to £IOO in each group. Scottish fishermen never fish on Sundays. They are bound to go out on Monday. The men from Yarmouth escaped because they fished on Sunday. There was further loss of life in the Hull fleet. A trawler lost three ! men overboard, of whom the captain • was washed back, but the others ; were not seen again. Altogether six j lives were lest. The disaster has caused a shortage ! of fish. —