Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-03-03
The Potomac Fisheries.
TaSIr Bst>hf aa Importance-P reyaratiOzs
Lhs CoD.iHo ,SeasOn.

Tasr Bstenf Importanoe-P Preparations for
Eas Coming SeGsOa.
The season being near at hand for the COM
mencement Of operations At the shad and her
ring fisheries on the Potomac, Water street is
made lively by the preparatory work. From
Captain John Gibson, the oldest fisherman on
the Potomac river, We learned yesterday that
the landings on both the Maryland and Vir-
gtnia shores have been rented, and are being
manned and equipped with fishermen and the
necessary fixtures. Captain Gibson will run
the stony Point, High Point, Far Landing,
and jackson City landings. Few people are
aware Of the labor and expense attending the
running OF these fishing shores. The great risk
OF losing a large outlay by an unsuc cessful
season renders 1t one OF the most hazardous
enterprises of the times.
10 becoming greater and the supply less every
year, a. the fish are becoming scarcer. The
four landings or Capt. Gibson require 300 men
10 work them, to whom he pays So each per
month, and board In order 70 secure suitable
shores several weeks before the season opens,
where he keeps them in readiness for the work
signed TO each, at heavy cost
ACTIVE OPERATIONS
usually commence about the LIST of April, and
are limited by law to the LIST of June, after
which time penalty u incurred for throwing
SEINE mo the river. Forty men are required TO
work the seine, which is generally about 5000
yards in length. The rent which lie paid for
stony Point alone Is $500 per year, aud the
average annual outlay by Capt. Gibson in his
employed at this busness upwards OF thirty
wears, and is probably the most experiencel
fisherman on the river, vet he sometimes fails TO
ind anything TO the profit side OF the account
on settling up AZ the close of the season. Last
year be lost 81 600 and his labor. which he hopes
20 recover this season il the weather continues
warm. He IS now getting his boass aud tackle
ready, and Is sending down his provisions and
s'OTCs a Few herriDgs have already been
brought into market, but no shad have been
caught; those now IN market having been
brought from southern waters.
WHO EENT TIE LANDINGS THIS YEAR?
, freestone Point Landing has been rented to
NE Messrs. DOwney, of Baltimore; Postum
Nose and Bryant's Point to Jacob Tanner, of
ms city; Hooes Landing will be worked by
Mr.. Elias HOOe Walters Landing by James
WalliDg, Windmill Point By Lewis Ashton,
Cove House Point by VIM. L. Pratt, CaywoOd's
Landing by James Csywood; Beasleys Land
ing and Simms' Point have not been heard
from; haryland Point not heard from; Goose
Bay by WIN. Runner, Budd's Ferry and Stump
Neck by Cunningham, Cha ran's Point
by Chapman Sons, Monkey PoiE ~ Downey
y Co, Gut Landing by Thos. Elliott, Green
way Landing not heard from, Monkey Point by
MIR. amer, OF Washington, and other landings
Oh the Maryland side have not been heai Il from.
RIsB AND CANE.
Capt. Gibson proposes to bring his fish to his
packing house in this city, and is having his
Scows put IN order for this purpose. In his fish
mouse AZ The rlVer front, which occupied in
part by Mr.. Mcknight, rs also kept variety of
river game besides fsh-at present there are
packed In ice chests upwards OF 800 pairs of
Wldgeons, bar and tail ducks; grot }, .rtridpes
and other fowls. large trough is " u so. Sed
with various kinds OF turtles from the fresb
water to the briny ocean.