ATLANTIC CATTLE TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 112, 13 May 1926, Page 9

ATLANTIC CATTLE TRADE.

■ • ■■■-— A STORM HORROR. BEASTS THROWN OVERBOARD. Following a recent discussion in the | British House of Commons, it has been j ordered that all vessels carrying cattle or other animals to a British port. On or after May 1, must be supplied with a proper mechanical killer. The new order is intended to provide means for the humane slaughter of animals which it may become necessary to kill during a vr»jage. This action is being taken, it is stated, owing to occurrences on the staemer Manchester Producer during a recent "oyage to Britain, when, owing to storms, a considerable number of cattle suffered severe hardship and finally had to be thrown overboard. The Manchester Producer was towed into port by a tug after wandering 1000 . miles out of its course, virtually a ■ derelict, and its seamen were sick at heart over the necessity of throwing helpless cattle overboard to save the vessel from foundering. i This story is a tragedy remarkable even among many that occur in the lives of those who go down to the sea in ships. It was related by a young Englishman of a well-known London family who shipped on board the vessel :as a cattle man for the sake of | adventure. j Cattle Starved. ! "Our quarters," he said, "were in the forecastle. The cattle were housed on the upper decks, in ordinary cattle pens. There were more than 300 head of them. "Our troubles started as soon as we left' Halifax. We ran into a furious storm. The wind howled like a lost soul, and the waves were mountains high. It was impossible to walk along the top of the deck where most of the cattle ; were housed, and for almost four days ! they had practically nothing to eat or ! drink. The few meals which we could j get to them were almost useless, for I the hay was either blown away or so I soaked with salt water that it could not Ibe eaten. I "The poor wretches were suffering ' such torments that it was decided to steer the boat a little out of its course so we | should not ship such heavy seas, in the ' hope of relieving them. Pitchforked Over. [ "This attempt to lighten their lot was i our undoing, for the steering gear broke I under the strain and we were entirely lat the mercy of the sea. I "We were drifting and the sea was heavy., It was decided, therefore to get rid of the cattle on top of the deck. "We had to drive them to the side of the ship. They seemed to know they were going to die. and some of them , fought pitiably and hard. They braced their forefeet against the side and held themselves and others back in spite of pitchforks and the other instruments 'with which we were armed. Those that ; were not flung overboard by the roll ; were hitched up to one of the winches and dragged along to the side. , "There they lay, plunging and floundi ering through the sea, while we had to 1 stand by and let them drown."