FORTUNES UNDER THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1920, Page 5

FORTUNES UNDER THE SEA.

1000 SHIPS TO SALVE. More than 1000 ships, of from 200 to 10,000 tons each, are lying in 20 fathoms (120 ft) of water or less round the British Isles. This is the depth at which the modern salvor can work, if he is trying to recover the ship itself. Cargo can be recovered at greater depths. Already experts are busy with plans for recovering this treasure from the sea. Salvage operations will be a common sight within reach of practically every popular seaside resort next summer.

The Admiralty has prepared a chart (D. 21) which shows every sunken vessel between Dungeness and the Tyne, The little black dots lie in strings and clusters. There are black patches off Deal, and off Aldeburgh (Suffolk coast) is a group so close that the dots almost run into, one mass. This is a spot where a notable piece of British naval work resulted in the capture of the Hun sumbarine responsible for the sinkings.

Across the mouth of the Thames is an almost complet; chain. Between Flamborough Head and Whitby (Yorkshire coast) the Huns reaped a rich harvest, which tailed off in a line due north-east intc the North Sea. '

Last July the steamer Toura Was taken off the Gower rocks, off the Glamorganshire coast, after six months' exposure to wind and weather, and towed into Swansea, bringing a fortune of ;£80,00l) to the salvors.