Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-23

so as to maintain the depth OF the port.
On that account were the ecluses de chase
constructed, which establishments are
formed of two distinct parts the first,
the ecluses proper, and the second a re-
serve basin. At each high tide of spring
water, the reserve basin is filed, and once
that operation accomplished the ecluses
are closed. On the other hand the water
of the sea decreases, and when it has at
tanned It's lowest level, the eeluses are
opened and the inelosed water rushes into
the port with rare violence aud ehases into
the sea all the muddy and sandy sediment
deposited in its bed. Many time the IN,
terested fishermen and women, while anx.
iously waiting TO draw up their nets on the
estacade. are startled by TIE voice of the
owner OF the nets who cries to them &c
quickly raise them as the eeluses have been
opened. There is then great hurrying and
excitement as the cylinders are turned ans
the nets fly up into the air to escape the
great current whose waters come tumbllne
down with feroeity which promises to
carry everything with them. The anna
teur fishing men and women, on learning
that the torrent is to last an hour and
fishing IN the meantime IS impossible, con.
suit their watches so as to return at the
end of that time and make up the ten,
twenty or thirty minutes which may yet
belong TO them ; for one pays twenty sous
an hour fer the privilege of using net.
The sand constantly forms a high bank
beneath the waves just at the entrance OF
the harbor. and when the weather permits
the dragging machine Is kept constantly in
use, whose noise forms a monotonous ae-
compartment to the noise of the waves.
One of the most interesting and exciting
scenes of 0stend is the entrance into the
harbor or the departure OF boats charged
with fishermen. During heavy seas The
entrance and exit into the ecluse is very
difficult, and these boats, containing
anxious men who constantly risk their
lives, spend oftentimes whole hour bat
Ting with the winds and waves before
being able to pass the bar. Some morn
ings as many as twenty and thirty of these
boats follow each other out, some being
assisted by sailors pulling ropes attached
to them as they rush along the estaeade,
while others, at the same time they manage
their sails, use their oars. During the day
the horizon is
COVERED WITH THESE BOATS,
Whose sails seem as numerous as stars in
the sky. Ostend is very important fish
depot, and aside from fishing in the tide,
its fotilla of boats fish during Summer for
the Goldfish. In good years this fishing
produces about two millions of kilo-
grammes of Goldfish. The produce of tide
tishing reaches about two millions and a
half Of francs. The Belgians are not the
only fishermen who seek 0stend as mar
ket for their wares, for the three large
basins along the wharf are filed with boats
bearing the flags of France. Norway, Swe.
den and England. Many French boats are
marked Honheur, Trouviile, Havre and so
on. Besides these numerous fshing-boats
there is the magnificent steamer which
carries passengers back and forth from
Ostend to Dover, to be seen on the wharf
Then a boat which runs to London and
back twice week, carrying both passen-
gers and freight, to say nothing of the
different boats loaded with coal and
guano, that the entire wharf is ex-
ceedingly animated all day long Rails
extend from the depot 10 the wharf, where
cars specially prepared await the arrival of
tie fish, into which 1t is Immediately
packed and sent off to Buxelles, to Ger
many and France, so that it is difficult to
obtain the best fish at 0stend, and the mar
ket Of the city displays but small and
poor quality of fish, such as is not consid-
iiered worthy of more renowned cities.
The market OF Ostend is exceedingly well
supplied and living is very cheap, particu-
larly If one does not drink wine, which is
very dear, owing to the duties on entry.
The hotels are reasonable, except that at
table d'hote you are forced to take wine,
as no beer is given and water is not al
lowed. Twice week there is a grand
market and foire. Early in the morning
the train brings little merchants to town
with their brooms, tin pans, yarn and
osher articles of household need, which are
all placed in the large square called La
Place d'Armes, and there the good house.
wives come to choose their needful articles.
Themarket, which takes place twice aweek,
is held near by at the Marche aur herbes,
when there is a splendid display of vege-
tables, fruits and poultry. One of the
features of the market is the sale OF popu-
lar songs in the Flemish language, sung by
families stationed at benches, where the
father plays the accordion, the mother and
two children singing as loud as their voices
permit, and at the same time distribute the
printed papers il their hands for the sum
of one or two sous apiece, The song occa-
sionally ceases, and the mother harangues
the crowd with all the power of her lungs,
and as these musicians are sometimes quite
near each other, the noise Of the singing of
different tunes, accompanied by the squeal.
ing of live pigs for sale, does not produce
the most delightful harmony to be heard.
The people Of Ostend are very clearly, and
on Saturday nights there is regular inun-
dalton produced by the scrubbing of all the
so that you become fearful lest,
in their cleaning rage, they may pounce
upon you as piece of furniture requiring
VAL.