Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-19
Shrimps and Shrimpers.

What is shrimper? A shrimper is
an individual whose daily occupation it
is to wait the tides on the sea-shore and
as soon as the water retreats till no more
than two feet or 50 covers the sand and
mud, he sets out with his catching appa-
ratus, which is net attached to stick,
He wades through the shallow surf,
pushing his net before him, occasionally
pausng to raise it above his head, that
he may ascertain whether he has yet
caught any of the hopping, shiny grey
creatures of many legs. If so, he trans
fers them to the basket slung by his side.
When he has filled his basket he takes
them home and boils them. Then he
brings them out again and cries them for
sale. This is the shrimper. Thousands
of visitors to Ramsgate, Hastings, and
Brighton are prepared to stand forth
and prove it ; but they are correct only
in the limited sense, just as is one who
styles a dealer in spills a timber mer-
chant. Pooh what does Margate or
Brighton know about the shrimps Next
to nothing. The shrimps that find their
way to the aforementioned and n few
other places, are but the hayward stragg-
lers that escape from the main shoal,
Gravesend is the headquarters of the
shrimp. Everywhere in and about that
favored town, from the landing-place to
the outlying hamlets and lonely taverns,
the legend meets the eye" Teas 3D.
shrimps included" Gravesend, through
out its entire length and breadth, and
far out on the waters beyond, must be
regarded as "shrimps included" Every
steamer that plies between Gravesend
and London Bridge brings duly its load
of excursionists. The dealers, with their
enormous basket meet them at the very
landing-stage, with quarts and pints
already measured in snowy white cotton
bags and, before the pier-end is reached
five hundred pairs of human jaws are
champing crisp and delicious chorus in
praise of the tiny appetizer. The cock
ney is not ignorant of propriety. He
knows that he should wrench off the
head of every shrimp, and divcstit of its
armour, before he proceeds to devour it.
He tries it with half dozen or so, 1t il
a tedious'process He compromises the
matter by tweaking the head off, and
crunching up the remainder, body and
bones. Otherwise, how would he con
trive to get through a couple of quarts il
the five hours that are allowed him on
shore? How many shrimpers of the
Brighton breed would be required t.
provide against so enormous demand
Hundreds -thousands-would be insult
ticient. No; the Gravcsend shrimp ha'
a fleet at its command. Not toy fleet
A squad OF. from thirty-fve to forty yes
sells of considerable tonnage, each witt
it's weatherbeaten crew-berry-browl
strapping fellows in blue guernseys-an(
with nautical legends hieroglyphicall,
tatooted on their hairy arms. In tn,
evening they lie close inshore, all in {
row, extending q good streets length
, taut and trim, to face the dangers of thu
lower beaches as soon as the tide serves
The "catch" is always uncertain. Some
mes the nights cruise will not yielc
more than the captain and crew coulC
conveniently dispose of at breakfas
time while the next vessel that come
in may have an enormous take. 1t is nj
uncommon thing for the vessels to land
in a single morning, upwards OF tw
; thousand gallons of the little fish, 10
which the cauldrons are already bubb
ling SO important is the shrimpin
/ interest, at Gravesend, that special an
substantial efforts have been made of lat
years as regards the spiritual welfare @
, the shrimper. 1t is all work and no pla
with the shrimp fleet. Sunday brings i
no rest. The temptation to dredgc Sun
days as well as week days sorely beset
$ the various crews Of the fleet, and it It
, quires the utmost diligence and tact t
get them to church. They won't 90 t
$ the sacred edifce, so the only way is t
= take the sacred edifcc to them. 1t ho
/, been brought so close that, when the su
/, is in favorable part of the heavens, tn
{ little church tower throws its shadow o
e the brown sails. 1t used to bea humbl
: lnakcshift church attached to the s.
:. Andrews Misssion-house, but year {
t 80 since good Christian, plying til
g benighted condition of the shrimper
@ came down with a magnificent sum wit
@ which to build the prettiest little churc
j. that was ever behcld. 1t will hold onI
S u hundred and fifty worshippers bu
;, when the windows are open, the music (
s the organ, nay, the voice of the preachc
may be distinctly heard where the fe'
n lies. -LOndOn TpIe0Tuph.