The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-06
Life Among the Long leland
Fishermen.
Dredgers, ClammerS, OyStermen, Purse Net
terS and SheepSheades.
An Old Salts Story of the Sea and
It's Treasures.


Sept 3, 1875
Fifty miles of white and yellow sand in long stretch
eastward Montauk Point aud westward to Far Rock
away Above me, pointing to the stars the Fire Island
light, with eye that blazes and rcvoHes over the
North Atlantic always. Without and only separated
by half mile of sand dunes, covered with ragged grass
and made musical by the ccad and the bulfrog can
hear from my windows the Cyclopean thunderS OF the
ravenous and roaring ocean, whose teeth are eating
into the beach day by day Within the Great South
Bay forty miles long and eight or ten in width covered
with snowy sails close reeied whose waters are fu oil
fish, clans oysters and mussels and whose tones can
be heard in their breaking and FLASHING ON
the lonely shore.
But few New Workers know anything of this Great
South Bay with the exception of those who stagnae
its borders in search of hunting and 1shng In the
dreary days OF the Northern it is frozen over,
but not very firmly, the tides from the numerous in
lets that pierce the ridges of sand certain 10 break
the ice But at this time of the year to its sur
face and watch the hundreds of pleasure and fishing
boats skmming to and fro rocking in the waves IL
dyllic picture and encourages revere and desire
for 'sweet nothing to do"
FISHERMEN.
find that this Great South Bay during my stay
its borders is than any sheet Of in the State
of New York. the home of the hardy fishermen. Talk
ing Win tncIn ana learning their lUoSyncrasleS tnelr
angularities their habits and their superstons--for
they full of the atter-I may say that they stand
alone-these bay men, as they choose TO be called,
title by which they hatered and very proud
of Inside of this sheltered bay all of fish may
be found, excepting the bucdsh which is caught in
rather scant quantities, fish which loves the open
Down below on the beach little child is at play
filling soda water bottle with sand, which
here assumes very often in long streaks on
the beach purplish hue, owing to the immense
quantities Of seaweed that Is torn from tho bed OF the
bay by storms and which otherwise oosens its grip
sand and mire when its of growth has passed.
give place to tho coming crop Of young seaweed Here
is the homo Of the hardshel clam best Of all for the
well favored chowder, and in the bay also found
that prince of oysters the Blue Point which has just
done spawning it always does approaching the month
Of September. What Woodworking fellows these fisher
are to be sure Awakng hour before daybre
Sayve the other morning, saw half dozen of them
in as many small boats with ground lines slung out,
already at work in their venture for shcepshead Not
voice to be heard the waters every man being
closely occupied by his avocaton and the only in
Permission among them is for pull at "A Bourbon or
apple jack bottle, which they generally have their
feet alongside OF their ba and tackle in the bottom Of
the boats And what queer-s shaped boats they Long
and not very wide doube-enders being sharp at both
ends having Stats nailed all along the Sides
well In the bottom of the boat.
SPINNING YARN.
One of the best specimens OF the bay that have
met with since my stay among the sand and pillows
met few days since between Conklin's and Lux's at
Fire Island 1t will be remembered that for some time
past the weather has been quite cold and it has been
correspondngly rough ''outside the fishermen call
after passing through any of the numerous
MI fhatd nt lonO beac hara
and therefore the bay refused unanimously to go
into blue after bluelsh any other fish As
consequence large number of them found lying at
anchor within the Great South Bay whose waters for
that matter have been rough enough to satisfy any
sonable landsman for several days
Yes, sir, I've bin bay fisherman and boy for thirty
two year reckon. Why Lord bless you sir, I've bin
fshin' and knockn' around on this ere coast since
high (here the speaker indicated his size the
time by placing his right hand fiat in the air about
twelve inches above the sand), and II about that
time that first commenced to read the NEW YORK
HERALD My! what pot o. money that paper must
have, be sure They do say that the HERALD could
buy all Of Long Island and still be able to pay the
boys every week. Just down to my boat. I've
bin buyin' boat, and mate of mine. l reckon
she's worth about $780, and suppose Pm boss of the
craft"
whom Dickens drew with such master hand. He
that at first thought made of I'M
tanned leather but aiterward discovered be a sort
of canvas, turned by the wind weather and
salt BRINE the color Of saffron. In moonsh, round
face shone pair OF blue saucer-like eyes glisening
with good feeling, and the face ITSELF which had
siderable intelligence and acuteness marked in it, was
fringed all round with pair OF bushy reddish blonde
whskers We walked down the little wavering fral
and rckety dock, which ovcrarched with branches
OF trees whose buds and leaves faded to russell
hue until to the end where "a number Of fish
ing boats tied up. Below in the clear water at
the bottom of the bay, and looking down, could see
the clans their white and aky shells enjoying their
undisturbed repose Afar OIL the rolling and
tumbing waves Of the bay, the white house
fronts and clustering small timber about them
the salt meadows, with the leecy clouds hanging
above the villages Of Isp, Babylon Beleport and
other surrounding towns and to the south, with
opening that lod to the sounding sea- Oak Island and
the flag floating from the stan of the Olympic Club.
on BOARD OF THE FUNNY MARY
We stepped on board of as funny Il craft as ever
saw, being pretty broad she long and
having very roundsh oval shape at the bow The
old man took me down in the cockpit, which had a
confused mass Of objects strcwed around-coils or
rope pieces of iron for use at sea- pulley blocks old
backing brush and many other articles that not
any proof that the ycss c in commission ready
for work. Forward in the caboose, crept, and
inside had time to look around me- having barely
to sit up. There couple Of benches that
around the side Of the vessel which spread
rough brown blankets, and little further forward
a small stove, of barrel shape, having one lid and
being about loot and half high with a short pipe
running through the cboosc roof under the boom. 1t
regular Dutch galhot the whole thing, in its fash
ion and appointments In corner, top of heap Of
rubbish, long fiat IRON pan for cooking meats
fish, and the gravy from the last succulcnt fry was
still fastened to its bottom surface An old salt down
the beach, whom | had met the day previous
told that the boat had name, but
that she TO be called the Funny
Mary" \ barometer and thermometer joined in one
frame hung from the caboose roof but did not any
boatamp, although there a small rusty anchor
lying in corner for in shallow water. For All un.