The Republican journal., 1869-06-24
THE WEAR FISHERIES OF OUR BAY, A
DAY At SEARS'S ISLAND,

w liIO lOOU VI SlICpG, one CAV
last week, we saw displayed on the floor !
row OF plump, aldermanc looking salmon,
ready to be dispensed to the lovers of GOOD
eating, and those whose purses could bear the
expense They came. we were told, from
oears's Island, where they were entrapped
by the devices called wears SO the resolve
was at once formed that we would 90 to this
place. investigate the manner in which thi
kind Of table fishes is enticed from the deem
and perhaps tell our readers all about it. So
an expedition was organized on the spot.
Brigadier's OF Sears's Island, as it is now
called, lies almost in the mouth of the Penob-
scot River, a little to the westward of the en-
trance, and forms portion of the town of
Searspor. 1t is one mile and three quarters
long, has an average breadth of three fourths
OF mlle and contains about nine hundred
and sixty acres. 1t derives its name from
Hon. Samuel Waldo, who used to be called
"Brlgadier Waldo" and was proprietor of the
W aldo Patent 1t is said that Gen. Knox
with his magnificent ideas of Maine lands,
thought that Sears's Island would be to the
fenobscot what Manhattan is to the Hudson
and had the whole surveyed into lots and
blocks The Duke de Ia Rochefoucault Liam
court, French nobeman, who was the guest
OF Gen. Knox in 1895, gives an account of his
visit to the island in company with Gen. Knox.
1t was then inhabited by seven families, who
had no title in the soil, and whose removal
the General was anxious to effect
When the lands Of the Waldo Patent fell
into the hands Of Thorndike, Sears and Pres
colt. Hon. David Sears, Jr.. now an AGED and
venerable citizen of Boston, we'll known for
his charities and liberal mind, became its
owner. BY him il was transferred to his son,
David Sears, Jr., gentleman of refinement
taste and culture, by whom it is now owned.
About 1880 company engag ed in the fish
cries offered 5000 for the island, but their
offer was not accepted. For these historical
facts we are indebted to Hon Joseph Will
| hanson.
SO it fell out that on the morning Of the
l1th the anniversary Of the little unpleas-
antness" on Bunker's Hill, roomv sailboat
rocked at the head ofthc wharf, her sail ready
hoisted, the spare coats. lunch-baskets, ETC.,
! disposed under the half deck, and the ships
company performing the feat of getting down
over the slippery side Of the wharf There
was Mr.. Frederick, the younger, w. H. Con-
ner, Esq, who has built a good many ships
and never sailed in any Of them; Captain
! f. ~ Hpr.imon who hoe salad tbn 10
world over; and the editor and his notebook
Tie sun shore beautifully warm. the West
wind was steady and fair. and the day SEEM
ed made for cnjovment-a time to rerline
lazly on the deck, gaze on the sea and sky
and listen to the dreamy lap, lap, of the waves
against the sides. Running along the shore
OF the river and bay, we remarked the beauti-
full appearance Of the fields, green with the
waving grass, through which the wind was
blowing its burrows.
| We wish here to record n conviction that
the main boom ola sail boat is no respecer
OF persons; for our head, of so much value to
Us personally and 50 Indispensable in the reg
ular appearance of this sheet, came near be
ing sacrificed in the operation of ''iibng -
Can't somebody invent a square rig and LUG
| sails for this sort of craft
| The seven miles to the island were speedily
run, 50 we We're soon under its darkly wood
ed shores, and anchored off the clearing
which contains the camps Of the fishermen
who kindly took us ashore in one of their
Wineries. The fishing privilege of the local
itx-i l,,tb Ia I
port, three brothers, William, Augustus and
Elisha, genuine sons Of Neptune, who have
sailed far and near have all been masters of
vessels, and now engage in this fishery for
the fun of the thing and for the sake Of that
employment which to men who have once
been in active life is always afterwards a ne
cessity. Two Of these brothers are among
the largest men we ever saw, standing over
six feet and weighing 23O pounds each They
are known locally as ''the infants.r The
manner in which one of them stopped the in
reference Of an upstart official with his affairs
| is related. 1t was while landing blocks of
granite at Fort Sumter, before the war. A
| fussy lieutenant undertook to direct the YES
SelS crew III ilelSllllS 4 huge hlOck from the
deck to the landing, and on being checked,
| flew into passion and drew his sword. The
captain, with one hand, seized him by con-
venient portion of his garments. carried him
out of ordering distance, and SET him down in
4 very decided manner. There was no fur
thcr interference with the work
AS the place is not occupied except during
the fishing season, there is only a camp with
cooking stove hunks for sleeping and n few
conveniences, with smoke-house, ice-house
for the fish, oil presses, &c The wears are
five in number, all upon the western side of
the island They consist Of Il fence built out
about 600 feet from the shore, made by driv-
ing stakes, in which are woven brush, or they
are covered with a coarse netting, or fish nets
past other usefulness AT the outer end of
the fence is the pound, horseshoe shaped
enclosure, with the fence entering the open
end. Beyond this pound are two others, each
with narrower openings than the preceding
one. The outer one is floored with Stats, at
low water mark, and lined with marline, or
coarse netting. The theory of the fishermen