The British steamer _Margarita_ was sunk by a U-boat in the evening of the 14th February, 1917, after being looted by the Germans. They took the clocks from the engine-room and cabin, the barometer, some condensed milk, and some soap. The crew were picked up at 3.15 a.m. next day and landed at Milford Haven. The British sailing vessel _Invercauld_ was sunk on the 22nd February by a German submarine, which opened fire on her without warning. After firing a torpedo, which struck the ship on the port beam, blowing away 150 feet of her side, the Germans boarded her and searched for food. However, the water was too high for this, so the commander contented himself by taking the chronometer, binoculars, clocks, bell, ensign, and other portable articles, for which he gave the master a receipt. The master and his crew of 23 hands escaped without casualty. On the 17th March, 1917, two German submarines attacked and sank four Portuguese fishing vessels, the _Rita Segunda_, _Flor de Abril_, _Senora del Rosario_, and _Restaurador_. One man of the _Restaurador_ was killed and three others injured, although the crews left their vessels after the first shot. On the 19th March the following official statement was issued in Lisbon: "While four trawlers were fishing off the coast of Algarvo, the most southerly province of Portugal, two German submarines made their appearance, one from the north and the other from the south. They immediately opened fire upon the fishing vessels. The crews were ordered to leave their ships, which were then looted by the Germans of the fish and clothing they had on board. The trawlers were then sunk. One of the fishermen was killed and three were seriously wounded. The remainder of the crews, to the number of about 100, have been safely landed at Lisbon by patrol-boats of the Portuguese Naval Division." On the 3rd May, 1917, nine or ten Irish fishing vessels were looted and destroyed by German submarines at about 8 p.m. The skipper of one of these vessels, the _Lucky Lass_, has described how the Germans took his new foresail, fishing lines, clothes, oilskins, and his son's watch. They then smashed up the _Lucky Lass_ with a large hatchet and a big stone hammer. They were in a great hurry, and ordered the skipper and his son to keep a sharp look-out for British patrol-boats during their looting operations. Another boat, the _Sir Edward Birbeck_, was sunk by bombs. The British sailing ship _Alfred_ was sunk on the 12th June. The Germans looted the vessel, carrying off the stores and all her brass-work. The crew were taken on board the submarine and then witnessed the sinking of another vessel. They saw dead bodies and struggling men in the water, while the officers and crew of the submarine sneered and laughed at them.