Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-20

TO the Editors OF the Union ana AIneIlCan'
Not a few of your many readers were
born in the Old North State, and still
larger number are of North Carolina de-
scent, though natives of Tennessee. Most
of these take an interest in the traditions
of the old land, and all of them have heard
more or less of the scenes and occupations
OF the coast region, 50 unlike anything on
this side of the Allegheny range; and pos
sibly a brief sketch Of the leading industry
there may not be unacceptable to them
and to others.
The fisheries of the Southern Atlantic
region are conducted by seins and nets, and
North Carolina is the centre OF this really
great interest.
The coast is walled in by great sand
bar, the inlets through which are mostly
shallow, and within which are many large
sounds, fed by broad streams called
rivers, but which, for some distance up,
seem to be but branches of the inland
seas with which they are connected, and as
examples Of these L may mention the Pas
1uotank, the ChoWan, the Alligator and
Prengo. wide and beautiful sheets for miles
above their mouths, and which, at the head
of tide-water, suddenly contract into mar
row streams.
i
the water courses Of the West that roll their
deep and turbid currents in crooked and
comparatively narrow channels, and at Ger
tain seasons shrink away before the arid
heats that dry up many of their shallow
tributaries; and if not famous as arteries of
commerce or boundaries of States, present,
at all times, scenes of grandeur and beauty,
the soft expanse of blue waters disturbed
only by the ebb and flow Of the tide, and
dotted here and there with small vesssls
whose white sails softly contrast with the
azure above and below, and the green
shores far beyond.
On these broad rivers, and at the heads
Of the sounds, the great fisheries are located;
and as your readers are aware, they are
operated chiefly for shad and herring, which,
when properly put up, can be kept for an
indefinite time, and exported to distant
markets.
These fish, early in the year, come in
from the ocean, aiming for the tresher
waters of the interior to lay their eggs; aud
the shad, esteemed the richest of all the I'm
nv tribe, are the first TO appear, coming, in
small numbers, in the latter months OF
winter, and increasing till towards the
middle of spring when immense shoals OF
berrings possess the waters. After those
there are runs Of rock, larger and excel
lent fish which was not formerly deemed
valuable as it was supposed that it could
not be kept, but which, l believe, is now
sailed I'D in considerable quantities-and
then come the cat and other tribes, Of little
commercial value.
To have a good fishery you need a wide,
hard, clean beach, sheltered under a high
woodland, and long enough for consider
able colony; and in picturesque positions OF
this kind you build cabins for your opera
tives and for yourself, shed under which
to clean and barrel the fish, stables and
storehouses. Hither, in early spring, with
hustle and excitement, You establish your
self, glowing with anticipation, and enjoy.
ing this rude and healthful life amid fail
and romantic surroundings. Every "hand'
in your service is in sympathy with
your authorizations, and if you gain nothing
else, you have decidedly good time Of it
in a thoroughly democratic, genial and
tractable crowd Of hardy men aud boys o.
all ages and colors, breathing a pure anC
exhilarating air, and enjoying, far from the
restraints Of conventional life, virtuOus eXer
else, converse with nature in her grandest
haunts, and the richest delicacies Of land
and ocean,,
The larger seins are from to 3 mile!
long, the cords that bind the edges fastened
to post, made firm on the beach; aud at Z
distance of few yards from this is a verti
cal windla5s, around which the other end
are wound by horse or mule power, aftel
the sein has been set. lJreqUires inCessan
activity to make two "hauls" in "a hours
and the fisheries which attempt so mucl
work have changes Of hands, and generally
pay extra wages for the night service. Ear
AZ IN the morning the sein is carried out il
boats and set in a semi-Circle, the lOOs,
ends of the rope are fastened to the wind
lass, and the haul begins; and though The
mules and horses are kept mOVin.
briskly, the little black circle on tn,
waters marking the outline of the huge
sein is but dimly visible for hours, and car
be hardly seen TO move. After awhile ;
4 faint white ripple is discerned, and then W,
begin to mark the contractions of the col
that is gatheringthe finny harvest, and now
as the sun is descending, the circle on whiCl
many eyes have long gazed with eageInes
Is only a few hundred yards in diameter
and the farthest point of the rim apprOache
us with ever accelerated motion. Th
foaning beasts aIe scOlded and dashed wit
increasing yehemence, and everybody is a
q
sein has now reached shoal water and tn
pull is severe-but suddenly we hear
plunge, and large number of sturdy mel
are behind the seiR and it is pulled an,
dashed upon the beach with its living treas
ures.
Such futtering. The sound is like tina
of a troop of horse, but no time is lost il
looking and specializing on the results Of tn
haul.
In an incredibly short time the marketa
blJe fish are cleaned, sailed and in the bar
res and this dispatch, due TO wise divi
sion Of labor, and to skill in its perform
ance, is absolutely essential.
The offal and refuse fish are carted off T.
the fields, composted with cotton seed
lime. etc. and covered in heaps, and hav
passed immense fields dotted with these hi
locks. the smell from which was by n
means sayory.
At the leading establishments permanen
records Of operations, the state OF the wealth
er. etc. etc, are made, and thus the result
of different days and years may be cOmpar
ed, and if | were to state what L have hear'
of some of the largest hauls, l fear my mar
ratiye would be considered tiSby in severa
senses. From 1000 to 10000 shad may b.
taken at once, and not less Man 10000 her
ring at a time wOuldbe regarded as heav.
business. | have understood that as man.
as 10000 Of those have been taken at one
and 10000 at one haul is not so rare as L
excite establishment among old fishermen
Before rock were put up, great haul o
those caused more trouble than profit; ant
it is said that this fish is combative, an,
when a school of them is taken it is known
before the sein reaches the land a
they begin to fight when crowded togethe
rear the beach, the boiling and sometime
Redeemed waters giving unmistakable sign
ofthe nature ofthe draught. Finally, whel
cat begin to abound the fishermen are al
admonished to discontinue work, for tn
run of the better class offish is now over
and there is neither profit nor sport in tn
aking of the horned monsters. 1t is posi-