Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-02-15
M Uscatimc COrrcspOMdeMce.
A FIsHY LETTER.


] MUSCATlNE, ECO. otn, 1901.
EDS. DEMOCRAT IL NEws-G snts II pick
ed up this mornings Journal, and almost
the first thing that attracted my attention
was a fish story, which was to the effect, that
on W Wednesday last, (the 9th inst, at three
hauls Of the seine. fifty tons Of fish were cap.
tured. | remarked to friend, sitting close
by, that it was just as easy to say one hun.
dred tons at one draw and be done with it
He remarked that he did not doubt it was
correct, and as he perceived that | was some
what incredulous. he proposed taking drive
down to the celebrated fishing grounds. OF
course gladly accepted, and promised my
self fine days sport-nor was disappOint-
ed, unless it was that it so far surpassed my
expectations. We were soon seated behind
the celebrated trotter "Firo-Fly," and to the
jingling of the bells, time (or we) flew 50
rapidly that we were soon, almost too soon,
at the appointed place, where fish most do
congregate. 1t is situated on tho slough
that surrounds Muscatine Island, some three
or four miles below the city. AS every
thing had frozen up tight the night before,
thew were not quite ready to commence ope-
rations when We arrived, and as we were
opposed to being idle, We rendered what
assistance we could to s'those who cast their
nets in deep places" The manner of pro-
ceeding is somewhat as follows: They cut
through the ice (Which is about a foot thick)
a channel about four inches wide in the
shape of balloon, the neck or small part
of which is at the mouth Of creek which
emptieS in there, and this, no doubt, il one
Of the reasons for fish assembling in such
vast quantities at this place. The whole
space cut around is equal to about = quarter
Of an acre. They then put the seine
through this four inch channel. and after
getting the floats all under the surface Of the
ice, with about half dozen men at either |
end, they then commenced to draw. As the
seine approaches the small part which is
free from ice, and the floats rise to the sur
face of the water, you can hear remarks,
both original and unique, for by this time
there is large crowd gathered around, COM
posed of Emerald Islanders or "Greeks,'
Teutons and a fair share Of Young America !;
Tor where can you 80 and not find the latter?
They are extensive and must circulate.
By this time the water is black With fish.
Eibernian says, "Bedad there's soale ~
A gentlemen Of German descent replies,
"Yaw. dat 'Sh pig vish,' willie Young
AnerlcH, UNABLE longer 10 control himself,
cries, ''Spooney, git our Their way till ST ear
that butferlo." Be h ends Of the seine being
now secured, scoop:shoVels, baskets, and
everything that VIII held a fish, are brought,
into requisition, ard they ire thrown upon
the shore rs fast as fifteen or twenty men
can pitch and handle. while the large fish,
pike, &c, which are liable to break through
the net, are speared. la about an hour the
net is cleared, and ten or fifteen WAGON loads
Of fish are laying on the snow, awaiting
purchasers at fifty cents per bushel, or 100
lbs, which Is considered its equivalent. The
varieties caught, were pike, (many weighing
from to Is 10, each,) buffalo, google eye
or croppys, bass, sun fish, do. fish, &c, &c
1t was estimated that there was 42,756 fish
caught at this draw. Ii any one thinks this
too large al estimate, will throw off the 6
q. e. inserting cipher in its steady, but not
another fish. The dog-fsh il considered very
good food for hogs--many farmers buying
them in large Quantities for that purpose,
and at tho prices they get them they say
they are cheaper than corn. The fishermen
said it was poor day for fishing, and that
this was very small draw. If this is the
case, l wish to be excused when they have a
good one. There was one peculiar specimen
of fish caught. which think it wero no sin
to worship it could be safely done without
the Cd commandment. Its like l
never saw before, end hope never to see again.
Yours, as ever, S.
P. 81 did net like to tell the fish story
as largo IS it really was, so reduced it one
half. IF the reader will double 1t he will fn,ll
it is much nearer CORRECT. s.