Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-02-02
CATCHING SHAD BY STEAM.

Correspondence Of The .Iouynal of Commerce,
Hartford, Comm Jan. II. 1885.
When Solomon said, many hundred years
| ago, "There is nothing new under the SUM-" he
could not have forseen that a portion of Man
kind so universally known as the "yankees
would be continually inventing something 'new
under the sum-" and bring the clements so com
| pletely in subsection to their will and pleasure
as to change the order as well as the ''eternal
| fitness of things Man has been told that he
should live by the "sweat Of his brow" but the
yankees" by their ingenuity appear to be seek
ing out way, if not to counterfeit this injunct.
ion, at least to make it as easy and pleasant as
possible. They have earned name by their
enterprise, their daring, and their ingenuity,
which, although some envious minded ndivid-
ualS may affect TO cast odium upon it, has given
them character which these same ndivid
uals are proud Of and which is blended with
that of the nation so strongly as to leaven the
whole.
Among all the inventions that has ever been
patented, the one | am about to mention not
only caps the climax, but certainly is the last
any one would have thought of projecting and
putting in operation. 1t is CATCHING sHAD BY
STEAM.
In the absence of drawing and technical
terms, | will endeavor to explain it as well as |
am able though presme more accurate de
scrption will be given when it is in operation,
which will be very soon in North Carolina.
In that State, shad catching is very extensive
business, and for three or four months employs
great number of Negroes &C. at consider
able expense, as their nets are mile in length.
Steam Engine of small power is placed near
the waters edge, with concave wheel attached
to the Shaft. Abreast of the engine and at
suitable distance from the shore for dropping
the nets into the water is buoy anchored, with
two blocks fastened to it; at a suitable distance
70 flo laft, E h,,n
more with one block each. On the right and
left Of the engines are FIVE more (making ten)
with blocks also From the Concave whee
two ropes run parallel with each other to the
centre buoy, through the blocks, one passing to
the buoy on the right the other to the buoy on
the left from thence to the shore, and running
through the blocks, to the concave wheel con-
nected with the engine. 1t will be seen that
the engine is put in motion also. Two boats
having the net equally divided between them,
are fastened to the ropes running parallel with
each other, and are carried out to the centre
buoy, then to the right and left, and of course as
they separate, the net runs of from the boats in
to the waiter until they reach the other buoys.
All that is necessary for the men in the boats to
do next is to take the ropes attached to the net
for hauling it in, to the shore, which is done by
having the rope as it runs ashore take the boat
with it in the same manner as they were carried
out. When this is done, the rope running
through the blocks on shore is cast from them,
(being made so that it can be done) and the
ropes for hauling in the net takes its place. and
being attached to the engine, the Shad are ra-
pidly vending their way to the shore. The time
occupied in taking out the net to the buoys when
placed in the boats and hauling it again to The
shore, must be much less than it has been by
physical strength heretofore. The plan certain
ly appears feasible; and ESQ, great evolution
will take place in this business. So great, that
some other "Yankee" must iHrent some new
method of separating the bones from the meat,