The Republican journal., 1869-06-24
AS we approached the first wear, a number

traps are very popular institutions. They live
and rear their young on the island, and come
regularly to the wears for their share of the
bounty OF Providence. As they take only the
small fish, and do no injury, they are not mo-
Tested, and become quite tame. Probably it
was our unfamiliar faces that caused them to
leave SO suddenly, with their dagger like bills
projecting in front and their long legs stick
ing ont behind like steering oars Sometimes
they gorge themselves so that the flvino out
over the top is beyond their strength, and 50
the robber himself falls prey Crows, too,
pick up their ratons here, and as that epicu-
rian bird likes his food trife ''high : he pre-
ters the fish that get caught in the upper mesh
es and acquire flavor by few days exposure
to the sun 1t is less laborious way of forag-
NC than to anticipate his income by pulling
up the farmers newly planted corn
As we pulled alongside the nearest wear,
the flooring was just awash with the falling
tide, and there lay splendid salmon, his sill
very side turned up to the sunlight, and hi.
fins quivering with his last life Scattered
around We're shad, alewives, herring, pol
lock- bluebacks. and other fish Without dis
turbng them, we pushed on to the next, where
were pair of splendid salmon one weighing
twenty-five pounds, and the same variety Of
o'her ilsh. Al the lower wear, usually the
most lucky, there was nothing but small fish
On our return, the fish were all taken into the
boat. A sliding door admits to the inner
pound, which is always cleared ont, the worth
less fish being thrown outside. With the boat
well loaded we returned to the camp.
Beginning to feel the keen demands Of ap-
petite, we proposed to investigate our lunch
baskets. The gentlemen of the locality, how
ever, babe lis have patience, for they propos-
ed TO set before Us the novelty OF salmon
chowder. One Of the fish was dressed, and
all the preparations made. As the establish
ment does not support 2 cow, a couple of Us
set out with pail across the island in search
OF milk. half mile walk through the wood
brought us to the farm of Mr.. Sears on the
north side, and in full view of Stockton har-
Dor, and its ship-yards The farm has fine
buildings is large, well kept and thrifty look
ing. The proprietor takes great pride in choice
breeds OF horses, kline, &c A good road leads
to the southern end of the island. where a sum
mer house has been built. There is a car
riage road off the island by bar, which is
covered by water at halftidr Mr. Sears and
family are usually there during portion of
the summer and are visited by friends Then
| y-nt.l,t ,,3' 1,
shore, the houses are filled with gay company,
bright dresses CLEAN along the shore ana in
the old woods, and mirth and yollity reign
Arriving back with our milky contribution
the chowder pot and frying pan We're in full
operation, and soon the table was spread, and
the meal pronounced ready. Then as we
feasted by the sounding sea and under the
whispering pines, how we pitied the poor crca-
lures al the great crush in Boston
| The Messrs Lanpher informed us that their
catch of salmon last year was 600 The fish
will average II pounds apiece The price
has ranged this year from 80 cents for the EARL
est catch, to % cents at the present time Last
| year they got Sl.25 for the first fish The
price does not go below 20 cents Most Of
th" e"'','~,, -'.rA : i'~'e',..', ~ ''i-
ford steamers, although q portion are market
ed in this vicinity. The earliest fish are taken
in April, and the catch Of salmon is over in
August Other fish, however, are taken as
late as October. Large quantities of shad are
caught, also alewives-the latter being satel
and smoked on the spot. Mackere are taken
in large quantities in July Menha,len or
porgies are also taken i'll the wears, and from
these about thirty barrels of oil are made wear
| ly Cod, haddock, and other deep water fish
sometimes wander into these traps. When
the bluefish are in the bay, some of them are
taken
OF course our friends have their troubles,
like everybody else Storms sometimes dam
age the wears, and last winter thieves broke
into their buildings and stole nets, rigging,
sails &c. They were caught, but one (IIas-
kclD who Slipped out Of jail last winter, was
rctaken, and is now at Thomaston The 9TH
en- the county authorities allowed 10 60 on his
''parolc of honor to appear, as the sufferers
| by his burglary inform US OF course that
was the last seen of him, We have heard of
q good many queer terms, but 4 burglars
I parole of honor is something new under the
sun
| But to return to fish. The hardest custom
| crs tOr the wears are horse. mackerel. They
gather around, attracted by the shoals of fish
inside, and sometimes go in themselves, and
90 out again through the sides, without pay
ing much heed to the obstruction of the nets
AT times they 90 through and through the
structure apparently for the fun of the thing,
and TO show how easily ii can be done The
remedy for this propensity j, 4 harpoon
through the EVERYWHERE Solomon says .'the
strange woman" plants them. Sturgeon also
make mischief with their rough backs and
powerful plunges, until q moose is got over
their tails which astonshes them SO much that
they keep still. Seals those creatures with
human looking heads and eyes as soft and
pie aiding as woman's, cut up heaps fannoy-
ing capers. They are cunning and wary. 90
in and out Of the pounds when they please,
Brighten the fish away, and are sure to take