The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-06-18
"Shutting Down" at Herring Bro ok

Carl Atherton, in 8 letter from West
Setucket, Mass, to Boston paper, says:
It is only.in May time that a semblance
Of the old time life and stir is seen around
Herring Brook. In that month the her.
ring come up in great numbers from the
sea to deposit their spawn in the fresh
inland waters, and then is the little
brook made q trap to capture hundreds
of the poor fish. The time for taking
them is usually from the 18th of May to
the 10th of June, although sometimes
the work begins as early as the last of
April. The method is one that would
have saddened the soul of old Izaak
Walton, being neither more nor less than
the cutting off all communication with
both sea and ponds, leaving the herring
futtering in shallow water an easy prey.
This shutting down." as it is called.
takes place at noon and sunset of each
day while the season lasts; and at those
times, particularly at sunset, it is well
worth ones while to visit Herring
Brook. The taking of the fish is in it.
self pretty sight, If one can become re-
conciled to the unfairness of such pro-
ceeding, and it is matter ofequal interest
to see the gathering of the country folk
from far and near.
Many time, about an hour before the
sun goes down, have taken my station
on the grassy bank behind the brook in
the shade of an ancient willow whose
long dropping branches dip in the stream
below, that I might see the very begin
ming of the sport. At first there are only
the rich afternoon lights and shadows on
hill op1 ot,aor,, ood tho os11yo,. 0looy,, of
herring through the clear water as they
come in from the sea, but soon the peo-
pie began to arrive:
Just as the sun dips down below the
western woods, man in an oiled suit,
with sunburnt face and grizzled beard,
appears on the bank at the upper end of
the brook, and pushing down a wooden
slide or gate. shuts of the water from
the ponds; then, coming down to where
the people are thickly clustered, he shuts
down the second little gate, and takes
his stand on slippery wooden platform
at the foot of flight of steps leading
down from the fish.house. The effect is
instantaneous; the sweet, babbling music
of the brook is stilled, and in place of the
foaming, hurrying waters thin little
stream trickles along the stony bottom,
where scores of the frightened fish are
darting about.
You did not guess herring could be so
pretty! They gleam and glance like bur-
nished silver in q rosy sunset light, as
they fight their way up stream, wildly
leaping the rough rocks and trying each
little water channel, only to find escape
made impossible by the wooden barrier
that has so suddenly and mysteriously
made its appearance in the friendly
brook. They are met by the shouting
barefoot boys with their willow wands,
who chase the poor herring about in
high glee, amid the jokes and laughter of
the bystanders, and finally succeed in
driving them all down to the platform,
where they lie in great shining, autter-
ing heap.
The waiting fisherman then takes
great wooden scoop and shovels them up
by scores into baskets and barrels, which
are carried off to the fish-house, where
the process of "saltine. down" takes
place. This would seem to be the most
cruel part Of the herring fishery, but I
have been assured that the fish live but
few minutes after the salt Is thrown upon
them, and I sincerely hope it is true.
After all, it is hardly more barbarous
than the gentle art Of angling, when the
wretched fish is often lett to gasp and
struggle for hours after the hook is dis
engaged-and it is nevtr done for the
mere pleasure of the sport.