Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-06-28
LETTER FROM MARrHAs VINEYARD.
All Along Shore-Biue- Fishing off the Island
Err Governor Gardaer-.JomnGlists on an Err
cuTsion-Fr1ats and CropS-.Sabbatt Silence.
Enc ARTov-N NJ pr,,,'s U,,,vno

Er-Gorernor Gdrdaer-.JomnGlists on an Err
cursion-Fruits and CropS-.Sabbdh Silence.
EDGARrowN, MARTHA's VINEYARD,
June 81.
Here, in this most quiet of all quiet places,
aside from all the thoroughfares of travel,
where nobody comes except those who have
some special occasion for it-wheW, on four
days, only, out ofthe seven in the week, sin
gle mail is received, with letters and news from
the rest of the world-here, for the present, am
located. The town is one of the oldest in the
State, and, call along shore" and, in all the re-
gions hereabout, it is known as "Old Town."
and is rarely called by any other name. Sc.
cluded as the place is, it is, nevertheless, some
what resorted to, in the summer and autumn
season, by sportsmen, for its great facilities
for fishing and fowling. Every arrival appears
to be Immediately known by the population
generally, and the stranger is duly waited upon
by those who have accommodations of any
kind, of which they imagine he may be in
need, during his tarry on the island
The "blue fish" season has Just commenced
and Edgartown and Nantucket are the head
quarters of this fishery. 1t is a very exciting
amusement. The blue fish, as you are aware,
is very beautiful fish, weighing usually from
four to fifteen pounds each. 1t is caught by
trailing, with the boat under full sail 1t is
very voracious, and is caught with the ma
ked hook, having for bait only piece of moth
er-of-pearl, attached to the upper end of the
hook. 1t is attracted by the brightness of
this, as it passes through the water, and seizes
it. without waiting for any critical examina-
ton as to its nature or character, and, before
he is fairly aware Of it, finds himself prison.
er, beyond the hope of redemption
There is something very remarkable and
peculiar connected with the history of this fish,
Their almost exclusive feeding ground, in the
Summer season, appears to be the waters about
this island and Nantucket Formerly, some
hundred years ago, they were very abundant,
but about the close of the last century they
entirely disappeared, and were unknown for
many years afterwards. Those who visited
these islands, thirty or forty years since, well
recollect the accounts given by the inhabit.
ants, of famous fish, called the ''blue fish,"
which formerly abounded here, but which had
become extinct. Some twenty years or so
since, they reappeared at first of a smallish
size, and few in number, but, in the. course of
year or two, they became abundant and of
gaaytusize, as formerly yapA have continued so
to the present time. trhey are strong, fierce,
and yoracious fish, and, while their season
lasts-trom the middle of June to the latter
part of September-they destroy and drive
away most of the smaller fish, and thus enjoy
an almost entire monopoly of the waters. The
sword fish season is at hand, and will be at its
hight in about month. Many of them are
taken in this vicinity, and they meet a ready
sale i'll the market, being preferred for the ia
BILE to almost any other kind of fish. They
frequently weigh several hundred pounds each,
and their capture is often quite profitable to the
fishermen.
stop at Nortons Edgartown Hotel, where
find myself us a us, at the table, with ex-
Governor Gardner, who, III company with his
friend Col. W., is enjoying the fishing with
much zest, with as much apparent unconcern
for politics as if the cares of State had never
rested on his Shoulders. It IS G46rtunate-for
me at least-that | am no politician, as it is a
guaranty against the Danger of any unpleasant
collision on such topics, between his ex-Excel-
lency and myself, even on the supposition that
either of us had so little of gentlemanly cour-
tesy as to make any difference of political opn-
ion the subject of offensive remark
While on my way here, in the good steamer
eagles Wing" from New Bedford, we call
ed at Woods Hole, where voice greeted me
from the wharf, and, looking up, l discovered
your former townsman, Charlie Chase, now
of the editorial corps of the Boston Adver-
tiser. lie and three or four more of his Bos-
ton friends had chartered a New Bedford soop
for weeks excursion, and, having visited
Gay Head, Nantucket and other places of in
terest had put in here, being now on their way
back, and expecting to arrive in New Bedford
on Saturday last. This kind of exercise is
becoming quite common, and affords agreea-
bic recreation and healthy exercise, in the
warm season to those who are cooped up and
confined to their sedentary labors in the walls
of the city, for the most of the year.
The naturally thirsty soil of this region has
been saturated to repletion by the copious
rains of the last fortnight, and vegetation
laughs and leaps in wild luxuriance, now that
the good weather has returned. Strawberries
are abundant and good The corn looks fine.
though rather backward, and one farmer in
this neighborhood has a field, which good
Judges think will yield more than hundred
bushels to the acre, if the season should con
tinue favorable. The hay crop is unusually
good, and farmers commence their hay
ing to-day. notice that the moving machine
has been introduced and is successfully used
here. Apropos of II notice, by the pa
pers, that, at trial of moving machines at
Charlestown, N. H., Worcester machine, man
utactured byJ. p. Adriance& Co. took the prize,
having fairly disanced all competitors. If the
! Worcester mechanics will all aim as / trust
most of them do, at the highest rank in the
excellence of their workmanship, sure and
permanent success will attend them, and in
the fluctuations of business their work will
meet a ready demand, while that of less re-
liable character can be disposed of only at a
sacrifice. 1t is a shortsighted policy which
looks to the realization of a greater present
profit, in preference to the establishment of
high reputation.
| have already spoken of the uuietude of