The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-08-14
Chnslng Blnckn.Il.

The fishermen on the point discovered
school of blacktish-a very large schoo
of transporting aud feeding in the
bay, and so set out TO capture them.
They rowcd out round them in theil
boats, and began to shout and strike the
water with their oars, and make. all the
wild hlsses they could, md started the
fish up the bay, when the whole school
darted of Mt full speed west for the big
water, till they struck the shoal.water
made by the point then they rushed
off east and struck the min land. By
this time all the fishermen an the point
and along the Eastman shore had got
wind of what was in the bay, and put in
for share. The packet Nelly Baker,
on her way to Boston, saw them too,
dropped anchor, and all hands pitched
into the fishing tacas, so that by this
time sixty or seventy persons, with all
the boats they can muster were in line, to
prevent their going south into the bay.
Now the fish headed for the south, us
they conld not get out east or west, and
nude rush for open water; and the
livliest time You ever dreamed Of out.
side a battle with firearms came on.
Every man and boy shouted his loudest
and with lance, spear, TX, oar, or any
thing else, they smote the huge mon.
steis on the heads, confused them,
TUNED back the first line, and tingcd
the waters with blood. By this time the
whole school was so harried or confused
that they did not know which why to go.
or care much, only to keep together.
Now they rushed enstcrly, md for half
mile the water boiled With excitement
and ragc-the horustopped them-they
were Guiet for while-thcn another
surge to thc west, followed by all hands
cheering and beating the water, and it
being high tide, they drove the whole
tribe on the shore, where they lay to-
dry. When they struck the shore, the
calves began to cry with long, pathetic
will, like hurt baby, which would set
the old ones in ragc, for they are very
fond and constant in affection for their
little ones, never leaving them till they
are dead When the calves struck the
shore aud set up their cry, the huge old
mothers and bulls would rush up TO their
rescue, and with hideOus roars that
would shake the air like thunders,
plunge on the shore over and under each
other, till some of them would stand on
their heads, and shake their hukes, ms
il determined to knock something to
pieces, if they could only reach their
pursuers. In chasing them mp, they ran
against the boats many times, but did
not sink them; and one smallish chap,
seeing what I'M easy time the men in the
boaS were having, jumped plump into
one of the dories. The men in it dis.
covered that they had business some
where else just then, and did not go
back to ascertain what business he Ii i
in their boat, till he drifted ashore MS
quiet us limb in the dory. At length,
they drove them MI ashore, and there
they lay, seven hundred and twenty Of
them, from three to twenty-five feet
long, and weighing from two hundred
to four or five thousand pounds. Like
whales, they are black and shiny fellows,
mud arc covered with layer OF fat or
which is cut into slices and
stripped oil for its oil,
The best Of my story is that the lucky
fishermen sold their prizes to the oil
men for $40 piece aud so some nine
Dr ten thousand dollars will be distrihu.
ted among the poor and worthy fisher
men, who do great deal Of hard work
Tor small pay. Bat I'm glad they hNl
such good fortune, for they do not
lrink much liquor, but spend their
money to maintain good homes, full of
comforts for their families. But next
line they drive such school ashore,
nay you and | he there to see.