The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-03-11

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how the other half Iivcs. Narr.,xI,.,
this down ~ a Local significance 4, mac
be irn;hfu'ly remarked that nno.ha,f ~
Michigan the soui horn does Nh NAV
how theo;hcr half the northern .isns
keeniy feeling the pancitr ~ know .,.,.,s
o. th's point hardening 4 large portion
q, ERR commonwealth. q representative
~ the News resolved Tho House intn T.
Committee ~ One. and. like '.Dr. Syn-
taN ~ search ~ the picturesque. W..
solved y ~ forth and Investigate Tia
mucli-talSri q fishing fownon Saginaw
BAY, believing II 20 be nearly tiue ~
me annual item with starting display
head OF, " a number 81 fishermen drlfi.
81 out to sen and LOST 10 appear.
Being thus empowered % ..send Tor
persons and papers the COMMITTED Of
One proceeded TO business.
Three large villages forming The ~ub.
urbs OF Fay City are largely sustained
by this industry-viz.: Banks. BANGOR
and Esscxyil|e. A Number OF fishermen
also live ~ West liay City as well A. Is
the city proper. At this season 81 the
| year especially do these places present
a scene of activity. as this Is the season
in which the fishing Il most extensively
conducted The nshing grounds ARK
situated about six miles from The month
Of the river and ten from BAY Citv.
good road leads out IN d north northeast
direction. The road, rs far inland "a
the eye can reach. is black with teams
hauling supplies 10 the fisheries and
bringing back the fish 10 BAY CIV. II
- scene Of busy activity ~ We M
preach the fishing village. aud every
thing seems 70 be on the trot. Dear
reader, were you ever ont iishinr
"when they Bit good" and you were
out OF sait? Well. Judging from tho
nervous activity displayed on every
hand on the ice here. yon would I'M
agine everybody 70 be tout on bait''
But here we are AZ last. IN the prinr;-
pal street Of this town. built upon Tie
congeacd water six miles from safety.
and within the . rasp Of death aud dan
ger NJ any moment.
Viewed from distance the Ice town
looks as though AL The dog houses III
Michigan had been gathered together
Tor the purpose of forming colony OF
Liliputians. A few are Of more preten-
tious size, these being the hotels and
groceries. Don't Laugh. dear reader;
all these nccessarics are here found.
and also well patronized. ii one N chit
judge from the number OF customers
present IN each "A better idea Can be
formed Of the city by taxing one IL the
fishing huis rs an illustration. These
are about 6xs II size on an average.
some less. some more. They are built
with the usual shantyroofs. but have no
lloor Instead Of a floor the whole
concern 4 mounted upon runners like
\ Sled and can be moved from place
- place. Thus the Typographical form
q the city l. constantly changing. rs
ne fisherman frequently moves from
place 10 place. Inside the shanfy are
)erths for the men, USUALLY three in
like those in the f0recastlr az
! vessel. "A little stove and platform
md fish box are all the furniture. Here
he men are coopcd up for two Or three
months, eat, and Sleep. and fish. The
ishing j. effected generally as follows:
hole Is cut in the ice about the center
4 the shanty. The men stand round
1. two armed with light fish spears. the
bird with a line 70 which herring is
ccnrcly fastened. This he le;s down
. the water and then slowly draws ii
acN 20 the surface. when ii II followed
n number 81 voracious pickcrcl Or
rput The two spcarmcn stand ready
q impalc the best. and seldom II ever
Ass, as the fish will follow the bait to
he top Of the water. Torches are used
lso BY night. which adds much ID the
picturesque character Of the surround
igs.
Tho present population il between
lree and four hundred. exclusive 81
n transfers and provision dealers.
lost Of the work is done by companies,
no hire the men IL 50 much per day.
~ there are many single fishermen Or
lther trios. who work the season
rough for themselves, and usually 40
Ell II the season il propitious like the
resent one. Last winter the bay fish
x was 4 failure on account vi the open
ater. but the present season promises
be one Of the best for sears. The
'inclpal fish caught are pickesc.
ough perch and suckers lire also
Iught; the season for front Is hardly
'cned properly Yet. The possibility
the ice breaking up NJ almost any
me Is one feature Of this work that IL
led with danger. II may aso part
pm the shore. and before the citizens
! the ice kpow 81 tho fact they naN be
'lfici miles out into Lake Huron.
ardly a season passes that this does
i take place. and the same storm
pm the south that sends Viz Tee out
% The lake viii usually break II into
lall pieces. and then thu danger IS
rgely enhanced. STILL the poor NJ
~ ARE usually rescued. Ihcmen arc
incipally French aatI Indians Mh0ar
gagged In this work. and the employ
eDt passes As 4 trade from father 10
n, from generation 70 generation.
II N considered IN "good form H.