The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-03-14
NUMBER 8.
Il CITY ON THE ICE,
HOW FISH ARE CAUGHT IN SAGINAW BAY
IN WINTER.

a correspondent of the Chicago Tribune,
writing from East Saginaw, Mich, says
The business of fishing through .he ice on
Saginaw hay has been prosecuted for several
years, and has attained large proportions,
giving employment TO large numbers Of
men, and forming city distinct a. it is
novel and picturesque AT present there
are about 200 buildings composing the city
on the ice, and active operations are pro-
gressing. The soil on which this city is
built is not of hat permanent alluvial which
has given Chicago the cognomen Of Gar
zen City" nor yet is it susceptible to the
cultivation of ordinary summer crops; hut
IL il of a character peculiarly adapted to The
crops which are being raised (ihrough the
ice) at The present time. The city is iriegu-
larly laid out in fact, no attention what
ever is paid to right an giles; and il is not
likely Ihaf the ordinary rules for finding a
given location in city would avail here
The buildings in this peculiar aud interests
ing town have ali been erected since cold
weather set in; and, with very few excep
tioms, the dWeIlers are all of the sterner sex.
The city commences three OF four miles
from the lighthouse, and extends several
"A
regularly organized municipal government,
with mayor and common council but 1
believe no such constituted body exists this
season, and the peaceable denizeus are at
liberty 10 erect wooden building inside of
the ire limits, if they chose.
The houses are nearly Of uniform size,
about four 10y eight feet. They are cheaply
though warmly constructed generally male
of thin pine boards, lined or covered with
huilding-paper. The bunk is placed in the
end opposite the door, and the pantry is a
shelf one side of the hut a small win
ow III The side admits light; But, while en-
gagged in hshink, this is usually covered. -
The little houses are warmed with sheet
iron stones, about sixteen inches long, round
except At The top, where is a griddle for
cooking the frugal meal of the occupant.
In the floor OF the shaury is = trap-duor.
about twenty inches square. which, on be-
/ ing raised, reveals a hole through the ice.
! The fisherman seals himself on 4 block at
Que side of the hole, and lowers in to the wa
/ ter herring attached TO one end of a string
the opposite end being fastened to the ton
/ of the building. The behring's are used for
( decoys, aud are canght as needed In get
]
/ four inches in length, is forced down the
/ behring's throat (fOr sinker) a slip-nOose
/ IL placed over his bead, and he is let down.
/ II alive, he swims uuaided but if dead the
/ fisherman resorts 10 artificial meibods. hy
dangling the line. The wafer where the
shautics are located is from ten TO fifteen
feet deep. and the bottom, being usually
sandy, Is easily discernible. Attached 20
another string is the spear. a nail i'm the
/ hauGle enables it 70 be hung on the edge of
the floor, whence it is quickly taken wheuN
ever the fish come mp 10 the decoy. It Is
1 then darreG swiftly, and, before an mex
| perienced person could hardly realize it, the
victim is pierced aud pulled through the
! Ice into he shanty.
! The fisI run best early in The morning
aud after 4 P NJ. After dark, lamp with
a reflector is used, and the business is pros
ecufed as persisieutly as iu the daytime -
The bulk of the fish caught are pike and
pickerel, with occasionally front ana white
fish. When the fishing i good. an indus
trious fisherman will take ont from fiity 10
15O pounds per day. The fish run in schools,
and the water Is often fairly black with
them. The fish are sold to wholesale dealers
. at AsdE 1liN dlitl iElldW- stIl SuInfitl IN
every direction. As high as 1000 600
pounds have been caught in a single season.
/ This year the seas on ccmucI.Ced rather late
and the product will be smaller.
/ The occupation is not without danger es-
/ peciaIiy in .he early spring, when the ice
5 cracks aud there Is scarcely a season that
some of the hardy fishermen are not carried
/ out to sea, from which they are rescued with
grear difficulty. Last wear your correspond.
/ ent went out in trg with party and res
[ Cued half a dozen fishermen, whose retreat
had been cat of ly the moving out of the
/ ice. When the ice begins to crack and ac
I uneasily, the careful firhe man packs hi,
little domicil on a sled and hauls il To The
J shore, where IL is slowed away for another
season. Numbers of sbauties are lost every
! year-the veuturesome fishermen remaining
. on the ice so long that it is Impossible Z,
take the shanties across the cracks. Th,
little houses, doJJiag The blue expquse of ic,
for miles in every direction, present pirtur
( esque and curious spectacle, and the city i
visited annually by large numbers OF interest
ed strangers.