Radio-Equipped Trawlers

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 16, 31 October 1930, Page 11

Radio-Equipped Trawlers

REVOLUTION has been worked in the fishing industry on the Aus‘ralian coast by the use of wireless telebhony between the trawlers and the Shore. Many an unhappy schnapper has been dragged from his briny home because the master of a trawler has been informed over the wireless telephone by his firm in Sydney that the market for schnapper is good and to. jJoad his ship before he returns to port. very trawler is fitted with wireless telephony, and at regular times every day the skipper of each vessel rings up his owners through the Amalgamated ‘Wireless receiving station at La Perouse, tells them what quantity of fish he has caught, where he is operating, and generally discusses the position. The owners tell him how the market stands, what the fishing is like on other parts of the coast, and, according to the state of the market, instructs him whether to remain at sea and catch more fish or to make speedily for Sydney or Melbourne. The trawlers on the New South Wales

eoast have their headquarters at Syd-: ney, and they cruise as far south as the coasts of Tasmania and Victoria. . Usually they remain at sea for about two weeks. In the "old days" a skipper had to use his own judgment as to when he returned to port, and it was not easy to avoid a famine or a. glut or fish, Now a telephone call by wireless regulates the whole business. The trawlers are small vessels ranging from 95 tons to 300. tons; and in heavy weather sea water often penetrates the wireless apparatus. It is a tribute to the Australian-made gear that the wireless telephony installations are just as effective as when first in-stalled-in some cases five years ago. In addition to the.trawlers, five of the Adelaide Company’s cargo boats are fitted with wireless telephony. The apparatus is.operated by the captain, and on the runs between Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide the wireless has more than once proved useful. when an accident has occurred at sea, These ships do not carry a regular wireless operator, nor do they maintain a continuous watch. The installation, however, includes a simple device by means of which the distress signal or urgent call could be seit out immediately the. occasion arose,