Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-05-06
THE Potomac FISH ERHEA
Seine Hauling by steam - Nov &C
Woke

WORKS
The fishing shore at Stony Point, on the vir-
ginia side Of the Potomac, some forty miles be-
low this city, has been worked by the veteran
fisherman, Captain John Gibson, for the last
twenty years. This shore has been one OF the
BEST fishing grounds on the river; but OF tate
years, like all the others, is falling behind in
quantities OF fish caught, which Is owing to
TOO much fishing on the river, and the loose
manner q OF executing the fishing laws of the
states OF Maryland and Virginia with reference
TO the eillers. The river IL very wide at this
point, and the increase OF depth from the shore
TO the channel Is very gradual. The channel Is
near the Maryland shore, and as the seine is
iaid oui TO take in part Of the channel, il re-
quires q circUt of about seven miles every time
, hal - made. The seine used At this laniny
haul is made at every ebb and now of the tide.
The idea Of
PIeHING BY STEAM
suggested itself To Captain Gibsou come yoars
since, in view OF the wear and te ar of horse
Hesh, new stock OF horses being necess sry
every year or two. The great length OF his
seine when out, with the tide setting against il.
requires great power to draw IL in; but the two
steam-eDgines-15 horse power each-erected by
him this season, do the work without any strain
The power required can he imagined when IT is
stated that hemp rope, three inches in cireum-
ference, is some tunes parted In the operation
especially when the tide sets in strong The
t~o engines are under cover on the lowermos,
point OF he lending, and it is found thai they
herses.
TIE HAUL.
The seine is carefully packed on the stern of
a large row-boat, shaped somewha at like a canal
boat, and nearly as large, with twsntsSsix stal-
wsrt colored oarsmen to propel it, the captain
George Gibsonj taking position just aas4d OF
Inc large pile OF seine, aud back OF the oars
men, where the steering apparatus Ia located
When all IL ready word is gwen 20 start and in
go the oars, slowly at FIRST, but the speed is
gradually increased, as shown BY the inere ssed
velocity of the Keller on the stern of the boat
over which the seine runs. An up-sttean
course Is taken at trst, before it is pradualIv
A CIRCUIT OF YEARLY SEVEN MILES
Il made before the rope IS landed on shore at
the end of the seine, when each end is tbro WI
around the capstan and the engines set to work
These are kept flying at brisk rate until All
the slack rope is taken in, bat the speed is
slower when II begins to pull on the seine. as il
Will not GEAR the strain against the tide On
each end OF ths seine 10 attached BRAT useh
TO keep the net spread out at the ends and far
fastening the enc ropes BY which it is drawn.
These END rores are the length of four coiJ<
escn, OF ,LOO yiIcs, and extend from the brails
To the capstan On shore. Six hours are con-
sumed in making one haul, and while the en-
eires are working, the men have very little TO
DO. excepting to haul in the slack Seine aud
When the seine is narrowed down so thst
THE FISH BEGIN TO JUMP
out OF water, the men wade out and surround
II, each one doing what he can to force ~ nearer
shore with its finny freight where the vater e
shallow. When this is Gone, the bottom ropes
a.e uraWn under so as 10 prevent the fish from
escaping, and a scow is boated along side and
the contents OF the seine dipped up with small
hand Lets and tossed into the boat. A thousand
shad and fIOm twenty to
FIFTY THOUSAND HERRING
If considered good haul nova DAYS The cos,
OF placing these steam works In, ia not much
greater than the cost Of horses for doing the
same eve work; and the wonder now is why Il has
not Deen adopted long ago. Captain Gibson is
THE oLDBeT FISHERMAN
on the Potomac river, having spent the prea ter
part OF his life in the srvice-nearly siStv-tive
years. HIS two sons, George and William g ib-
SON. nave been reared to the same business, and
% osethfr drive strong team. Captain NJ.
Cramp, one OF the foremen on this shore has
been employed twenty years in fishing on this
landlng FOR Captain Gibson, and number of
the men now in his employ worked for him
twenty years ago. During the early part of the
, ,s.e val ne was permitted oearry on his bust
ness unmolested by both the United States ana
confederate governments, and even while the
nVer vas biockaded, but at later
period his buildings were burned down
EoNFoRTA Bib QUARTERS
are erected ior the fishermen, some sixty in
mum Cef. and they are well provided with food
Ihree meals day are served up, and
WHISKY
IS passed around twice during each h AMI IN
trose who desire it; but some of the men are
seeiotaiieIs' never drinking drop the whole
season 1hese men stard the hardships OF the
NJ hing life much better N an those who take
7 heif whisky rations. IN place of whisky. mo-
IssSes - given TO those who prefer IL Fac
men are All hearty. very little sickness being
bLown anon them. s
at this shore, the proprietor tearing he vi, 10:
mike expenses, but few ole lime. ham.
"oulC set him all right. The season Will END
spout week hence at all the landings.