Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-24
The Annual stShutting Down, at
Herring Brook

Carl Atherton, In letter from West Setucket,
MASS, 10 boston exchange, says:
IL Is only In May that Semblance OF the old
time life and stir Is seen around Herring Brook.
In that month the herring come up In great
jumpers from the sea to deposit their spawn In
brook made trap to capture hundreds of the
poor fish. The time for taking them Is usually
from a.t tne 10TH OF May to the 10th of June, al
the last of April. The method Il one that would
nave saddened the soul Of Old Izaak Walton, be-
1hg neltner more nor less than the cutting Oft
an communication with both sea and ponds,
leaving n tne herring futtering In shallow water
This :shutting down." as it is called takes
pace az noon and sunset Of each day while the
season lasts; and at those times, particularly at
sunset. 1t Is Well worth ones while to visit Her
firg Brook. The taking Of the fish is In itself
a pletty sight, II one can become reconcIled to
lue unIalrheSS OF such q proceeding, and 1t Is
natter or equal interest to see the gathering of
tne country folk from far and near.
Many time, about an hour before the sun
goes GOWN, nave l taken my station on the
grassy bank behind the brook in the shade of
an ancient Willow whose long dropping branches
oip ia the stream below, that 1 might see the
very beginning OF the sport. At first there are
0nly inc rich afternoon lights aud shadows on
MA ana stream, and the silver CLEAN of her
Ting through the Clear water as they come in
rive. e-A W ~
just as the sun dips down below the western
WOODS, man in an oiled suit, with sunburnt
o.N IAA.AOu OCdiu, appears On Inc DanK at
tne upper enc or the brook, and pushing down
WOODEN slide or gate, shuts off the water
from Tie ponds; then, coming down to where
tne people are thickly clustered, he shuts down
tne second little gate. and takes bis stand on q
slippery wooden platform at the foot OF a flight
OF steps leading down from the fish house. the
enect IS instantaneous; the sweet, babolng
music OF the brook is stilled, and in place Of the
foaming, hurrying waters a thin little stream
trickleS along the stony bottom where scores
OF the frightened fish are darling about
You did not guess herring could be so pretty!
They gieam and glance like FURNISHED silver in
the rosy sunset light, as they fight their way up
stream, wildly leaping the rough rocks and try
ing each little alter channel only to find eScap De
made impossible By the wooden barrier that has
so suddenly and mySteriously made 1t appear
ance 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,
futter1ng 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 ''Satfng
down" takes place. ThiS Ould seem to be the
most cruel part of the herring fisher y, but
have been assured that the fish live but few
minutes after the salt Is thrown upon them,
and sincerely hope 1t Is true. After all it is
hardly more DarbarOus than the gentle art OF
angling, when the wretched fish Is often left to
gasp and struggle for hours after the hook is
dtSengaged-and It is never done for the mere
pleasure OF the sport.