The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-21
Trips to the Fishing Banks
and Coney Island.
Singing, Dancing and Swearing
Freely INDUCED In.
THE NOBLE ART OF ANGLING
Life on Coney Island and the People
Who Go There.

the steamboat which left this city yesterday
morning Tor the Fishing Banks his enthu-
siasm for the noble art OF angling would
have greatly lessenened by the spectacle he would
have witnessed. Drunken men, seasick women,
NOISY children, profane language, dancing and
s-agiug would have seemed to him strange accom-
Faniments to the hook ana line.
The Fishing Banks from the reputation they
enjoy are rs little known to respectable New
Workers as the happy hunting grounds OF the
Indian are to Western settler. There is o vague
belief that they lie somewhere near the Atlantic
ocean, but what they look like or how they are
reached mysteries. There Is class OF New York
ers however who have been familiar with the Banks
from their childhood. These are the rowdies and
the roughs, to whom the place Is Sunday para
disc. or all the excursions which leave New York
on Sunday that TO the Fishing Banks has the least
senbance Of respectabty and decency. 1t il
rough upon Coney Island boat, but for the unre-
strained depravity OF the New York rowdy, you
have got to 90 to the Fishing Banks.
In the back streets OF the city there are posted
upon the dead walls nasty looking bills, embel-
lished with O cut OF two men trudging
along, borne down by the weight Of
the sea bass, founders and porgies which,
the bin states, have all been caught Mt the Fishing
Banks to which the new and elegant steamer"
nages daily trips fare 81, ladies fifty cents. A
Herald reporter was detailed to accompany one
sf these ''new and elegant" boats yesterday and
the result OF his experience Is given below Getting
On board at Christopher street the boat was found
70 be already about half full. The class Of persons
On hoard was composed OF rowdies matured and
r0wdies in tie bad, slangy young men and bold
looking young women to infants In their mothers
arms. getting their first initiation, with here and
there respectable looking man whose love for
dshing had led him to brave the discomforts
to which he would be inevitably subjected by his
travelling companions There was one group upon
the boat conspicuous for disorderly conduct 1t
was composed Of half q dozen dirty looking
young Jews, who bore upon their faces the unmis-
taxable mark of rough. Before the boat had left
Its orngs they had commenced operations. and,
strange as 1t may appear, everything they said or
did was heartily applauded. They 60 down on
The boat every Sunday, and are deadheaded In con-
alteration Of their distinguished services. The
shop girls VINO are board in large numbers think
them splendid fellows and sweep with delight when
they give them q smile and tremble with fear at
their frOwn." Almost every one who comes on board
carries q basket to take out provisions and bring
home fish. AS almost every male and some OF the
females intend to angle, rush Is made for places
On entering, and the sides OF the boat from which
the fishing Ia to be done are soon appropriated. A
place Is secured by tying line to rail, and
this 10 considered as sacred as reserved seat In a
lines and bait can find them on board Tor hire, q
arty looking man. sitting behind dirty bar. being
busily engaged in vending them.
Wien the last available passenger has been Sc.
cured the boat starts on its way and then the fun
commences Chan car, can be heard card, on al sides,
on the legitimacy Of some obstinate individual
and greviOus assertions made about his mothers
virtue. There Is y bar on board, where lager Is
retailed along with Jersey lightning vile brandy
and horseshoe Bourbon. This bar Is constantly
crowded, three men having all they can do TO sup
ply drinks to the craving multitude. When the boat
Ia outside the city limits hard-iooking individual,
snirt ana pants sron.s ,o Lades ana
general rush Is made to secure places, and the
pretty girls are picked up for the first dance. while
the more hOmely ones must walt their turn. When
everything Is ready the coatless individual turns
round and says, Professor, now We are ready;
'ir0fessor' Is a red-faced, pudding-headed man,
with dyed mOustache and dsspated look.
He plays upon cracked fiddle, and Is assisted by q
diapidated partner. who harps upon harp. The
music s about to begin. when the vigilant master
Of the ceremonies discovers that young man Is
"Come along, now come along, some good-looking
young fellow; here's partner thatl break your
In response to this invitation young rough, with
yellow hair, yellow skin, yellow teeth, q tattered
When he comes up he is saIuted with a kick and
consigned 10 place where water could not keep
am cool seeS pGe Locking
men than you in the rogues' gallery" This
sally occasions general laugh, and the girls look
strive by every means to attract his attention. A
partner Tor the .'lone lorn damsel" is finally pro-
cured, and the dancing commences at last. END
couples f-o-r-w-a-r-dn ..laaes change partners,n
and similar expressions proceed from the mouth OF
the director and the dancers loot 1t merriy to the
During the lance couple oil girls stumble and kick
up their heels This is considered great Jun, and the
enthusiasm becomes Intense. The dancing IL kept
up until the performers are completely exhausted,
ana then the ladies taken away to be treated
~ lager, soda or brandy to the latter OF which the
e. tastes OF maDy incline.
BY this time the boat Is well upon its way and
tipsy individuals beginning to get numerous. the
tpsiness Is not confined to men. Some women
look If they had imDbed too freely, and they can
be seen pouring the poisonous liquid down the
throats OF the children In their arms. The spec
tacle Is a sad and aemorazing one, and cannot
fail to he productive oil the worst results TO the
many boys and girls who witness 1t. The noble ex-
panse oil the bay and Its many beauties have no
charm Tor people such as these. They come to
drinking swearing and Ggnting As it is bad to
let the men drink too much without eating,
sandwiches Iyd made Of stale bread and hall.
each by man whose face and hands
are thickly covered with dirt II your inclination
fncllnes towards more substantial repast, you
apply to an nsoent negro, who for a dollar, will
supply you with a dinner consisting OF tough
~stsTy oaCas you pt the prce
you win be mildly admonshed that, II necessary,
head WIN be put on you and you VIII probably
and wlli get away az quietly as possible.
After the dancing singing was In order, which was
tSu W u ldt, ndIu-loohuk yOuuk man. the CHOTuses
being taken up all around. He sang "Buildng Cas-
ties In the Air." "Whiskey You Are Ny Darling, "
an9 another ditty' 70 tnentense SATISFACTION OF ms
cation ny noisy applause. The singer, taking
advantage Of the moment with an eye 70
business, disposed Of large number OF song books
containing the gems which have given SO much de-
light. Another dance Is now formed, which IL by
no means 80 steadily executed as the first, great
many OF the dancers having imblbed more liquor
than they ought and as the vessel now was near.
Ing the ocean its roll, combined with the whiskey
sant the roWdy Young men staggering all sides
The step which Is most affected Ii what IL called
the pivot STEP" which is very popular In jones'
Wood. 1t derives Its name from the custom Of
holding your partner at arms length and hopping
at every turn. Az the sea Is neared the color OF
many oi the women's faces resembles that OF ashes
and they can soon be seen stretched In all drec-
lions moaning with sea sickness. Their groans
can be heard on all sides and the number increases
To such degree that more than half are laid out
by Tue time the boat reaches the Banks.
Wh en- the anchor Is cast o Wild rush Is made 70
the sid es Of the vessel and every line rs thrown