TRAWLER’S QUEER HAUL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16462, 14 June 1919, Page 3

TRAWLER’S QUEER HAUL.

GRIMSBY FISHERMEN NET A TRACTION ENGINE. All that comes to the trawlerman’s net is not fish—particularly in wartime, says the Weekly Dispatch. Though the east coast trawlermen know every inch of the North Sea, they regard the future with doubtful eye, for derelict torpedoes and strayed mines still stud the bottom of the sea. There are many less alarming things among their strange catches, however. As a netful of fish were shot floundering into one trawler recently, for instance, there tumbled out with them a metal-bound chest which was full of gold coin. No, the fortunes of the fishermen were not made; the fin’d went into the custody of the Customs authorities. A crate of felt hats was another unexpected haul which one crew made. Many fishermen secure a serviceable “rig out” from luggage lost from wrecked craft. A skipper was seen shaving himself the other day with a razor from a water-soiled but handsomely fitted dressing-case salved by the trawl. A lady’s gold wristlet watch was found recently in the “pouch” of a cod, which must have snatched the glittering morsel as it fell shimmering through the depths. Few skippers would expect to include a traction engine in their catch, but early in the war a Grimsby boat “caught” one. A vessel with a deck cargo lof agriciultunal machinery was torpedoed, and not Jong afterwards a trawler which was working the ground got a heavy hag. When the steam winch hauled the catch into view it was seen to be an agricultural tractor. It was hopeless either to free tho net or to “gaff” the strange fish, and the skipper with a sigh-had to chop away his gear—£2oo worth of nets and hoards and warp.