Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-02
TIE YANKEE FISHERMEN.
A sketch Of Their ., abttS and Natu rf

The fishermen OF our coast are very different
In their mode OF life fIom those of Europe. They
are men VINO are more or less identified with
the wreckiDg business, though the northern
men do not take out licenses, as they are legiti-
mately engaged as fishers The fishermen OF
massachusetts Bay are enterprising, ambitious
men.
The pretty white cottages that dot the heights
Of Swampscott and Marblehead, and Gloucester
And Roekport, are their homes The neat,
yacht-like vessels that ride at anchor i'm the
snug coves Of the great bay are their fishing
craft. Fleets of these schooners are moored
together for mutual assistance aud safety. There
are no more beautiful vessels to be seen on our
waters. These fishermen are good citizens at
respectfully.
The Swampscott fisherman is part owner of
his vessel; perhaps the four or five others who
SAN with him are similarly situated. One of the
number is chosen skipper or captain. A new
hand or boy l. cook. Some of the vessels are rs
large as seventy tons burthen, or more. The
crew are together, IN winter, several hours be-
fore daylight; il the wind serves are on the fish
ing ground. Goldfish Is the main business, though
haudock, bake, and other fish are taken at tim y.
The men are wrapped I'm a complete suit OF OIL
cloth and wear an oilcloth hat, with ear-lappels
lined with cotton. A cape is attached to the hat
which, altogether, is called a s0u'wester. The
boots are Of exceedingly heavy cowhide, with
prodlgiously thick soles, all being thoroughly
soaked with tar. Once well 'scured" they are
lmperyious to water, and resist the cold effectu.
any so cumbersome are these boots, il is iii III
cult to understand how they can be at all useful
to the owner while managing his frail dOry.
Yet II is said their great weight assists In hold
ing the body ste adv while the boat roc Ks beneath
the fisherman. A heavy pair of socks are worn
inside. The mittens are important and indis-
pensable for winter use. They are invariably
made Of yarn, knitted by hand, and very heavy
They are constantly wet by contact with the
lines. In freezing weather the men keep them
pliable and the hands warm by continually i'm
mersng them in fresh water. This seems a
mystery to the uninitiated; but it is valuable
custom, as We can personally testify having
spent one of the winter DAYS on board a fishing
boat in .full suit" There is nothing like a
cold sensation experienced; the hands are psr-
fectly warm, though the outside of the mitten
be frozen. -
When the vessel has arrived on the fishing
ground each man prepares to leave Ids dory
These boats are piled on deck one within tn
other, like so many sapcers, and each man has
his own. The vessel is left in charge of the cook
who fishes As best he NAV. from the yessel,s
side. The men then row or sculi their boats
anywhere I'm sight of the vessel in search OF ian
They usually rej0ine each other at noon ON hoard
| AMI take their dinner.
After flew hours more work the vessel nj Ks
mp her men, and starts for home and a market
In this kind OF fishery the men sell their catch
OH the beach, or the same night IL is taken in
1 wagons to Boston, Lowell, and back into the
country. In the summer, when the weather is
such that they can make night of it, they 90 70
| Boston direct, going to their homes only on Sat
urdays to spend the Sabbath. They are a. 2
| class, church going people. One viii see the no
on the Sabbath with their families dressed In
| their best clothes, attending church.