The Sea Gives, The
Sea Takes Away ...
by Gro Røde
The sea is a fickle and dangerous place of work. Almost every winter,
someone was "left behind" at sea. Many men met a watery grave, and in
Lofoten you will find several common grave stones and monuments
dedicated to tragic losses at sea. It was when the fishing was done in
large open rowing boats that the major disasters occurred.
February 11, 1849:
The Lofoten fleet was out on the fishing grounds when the weather
suddenly changed. A north-westerly storm with hurricane force winds
wiped the seas clean. Five hundred men were lost on that day. Thousands
of people lost a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a friend.
And there were other years, too: On March 31, 1868, 100 men were drowned
in a storm. In 1893, 119 were lost at sea in Lofoten and Vesterålen. And
here in Lofoten we remember March 30, 1946. The 52 foot fishing boat "Brattegg"
was smashed to smithereens just off the breakwater in Laukvik, on the
outer coast of the island of Austvågøy. 14 men were on their way home
with their share of the profits after the season was over. Not one of
them made it. The oldest was 47, the two youngest were just 17.
In Lofoten today, more people are killed in traffic accidents than at
sea. But when drowningsdo occur, they have a devastating effect on the
local communities, the people have traditionally learned to fear such
accidents.
Despite new technology, colour echo sounders, navigational systems
and satellite navigators, a safe, traditional type of insurance is found
in the companion boat. The boats compete over the catch, yet they wait
for each other, approaching and leaving the fishing grounds together.
Technology is not always enough – the sea and the weather cannot be
tamed!
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