The Portland daily press., 1863-06-27

other day we numbered eleven wives, connect
ed with our congregation or worshipping with
us. whose husbands are in the war, in many
cases having small children. Nearly as many
mothers have sons in the army, some of them
two Ii other parts of the town are equally
represented with our limited territory, a large
draft has been made on our effective industry.
But the town is prospering; everybody has
employment, and money circulates freely.
We see no loafing and hear little complaint.
Wives and mothers bear with fortitude the
anxieties incident to this terrible war. When
sick ones return they are nursed with tender
est care.
Farm interests are not neglected, mothers
and daughters sometimes cheerfully supplying
the places of the absent.
THE CLAM BUSINESS.
The tides which ebb and flow into our beau
tiful bay leave wide range of flats amid the
numerous islands where the clam diggers find
an ample harvest. Sometimes they are able
to take advantage of two ebb tides in one day,
ordinarily but one The chief end of this la
Dor is to supply bait for the fisheries. They are
used in taking cod, hake, haddock and mack
erel. They are shelled between the tides and
put up in barrels, preserved in SALT and thus
carried to the fishing grounds. Several hun
dred barrels are put up during the Spring
months and sell this year at six ard seven dol
lars per barrel. Fishing is carried on less than
in former years, but shad, mackerel and other
coast fisheries furnish employment to num-
bers.
SHIP BUILDING.
The village of South Freeport has grown up
in connection with shipbuilding, i'm which the
Messrs. Soule have been largely engaged.
They have built some of the finest ships that
Maine has produced. The Lafayette, destroyed
by the Alabama, was a noble craft. She had
no insurance. A son of Capt. G. II. Soule
one of the chief owners, was on board, was put
in irons like the crew, and having been trans
ferred to the deck OF the pirate, saw the flames
devour their late proud ship.
The Orick, another large ship built here,
was lately sold in England for a sum which in
dicates her market value. Including the val
ne of exchange, she brought between 100000
and $4,000. Another one of about one thous-
and tons, which they purpose to launch on
the I'd Of July, is now on the stocks. 1t has
been delight to watch its progress for the
last six months, and to note the qnietness and
order as well as resolute industry which has
wrought such practical results.
Master Horace Brewer displays the hand
OF master and the eye of an artist in the
modelling of ships and management of men.
Some seventeen vessels of different sizes and
models have been built in this yard by him
pleted, another of smaller size is TO be COM
menced.
A few rods distant Messrs. G. & G. Bliss are
finishing fine brig of which James Brewer
is the master builder. He too is master of his
profession, as numerous ships afioat abundant
ly testify. The Messrs. Bliss are to build one
or two more the present season.
Across the cove, in full sight Of our village,
Messrs. Briggs and Gushing are also building
a noble ship Of about 1000 tons, which will be
afioat in a few weeks. As may be supposed, in
place where so many ships are bnilt sailors
are raised in large numbers, so that the indus
tries of Freeport are abroad in every sea.
Large quantities of hay, potatoes, wood and
other farm products are shipped from our
wharves-the industries on sea and on land
conspiring to keep us active and in sympathy
with the worlds progress.
Yours truly,
G. PEARL.