Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-04-26

IL have a plan by which think can
remember It."
Let me hear it,"
Suppose you draw an outline of the
oyster, make dots on the paper and write
over them the different parts"
"A most sensible suggestion" replied
the captain; and he proceeded to carry it
into execution.
by that means you know, uncle"
said Harry. watching the drawing. II can
explain the parts TO my schoolmates at
home, and at the same time become better
acquainted with them myself"
II hope you will. Natural history is
one of the most interesting and profitable
studies. and / am pleased to observe you
desire to begin it In practical manner
The drawing was completed to Har-
rvs satisfaction and placed carefully in
his valise.
The wind had fallen. contrary to the
expectation of Captain Covngton-too
late, however, to allow them to proceed
TO the dredging grounds.
larry went on deck, and going 10 tue
galley window recred in. Moses nodded
on chair, close TO the hot stove. Quicklv
opening the door, Harry. in loud voice,
exclaimed:
Moses
Here. master" spoke the cook, start.
ing up in bewildered astonishrnent. TO
de Lo', Master Harry, how you frightened
de old nggcr!" and his face broadened
into grin as he bcheld Harry standing in
the doorway.
Say, Moses, what is this thing full of
chains and iron bars out here on the
deck?"
"Dat's de dredger what cotch lie islers
an hists dem out'n de wata, an dat wind
lass is what winds it in," WAS Moses SIM
pie explanation.
YES" remarked Captain Covington,
coming up at this instant, THAT is the
dredge. =" Let me explain its construc-
ton: This dredge is four feet wide, with a
net bag, woven Of wire and rope, drag.
gring behind ii. Its mouth is kept open
by this iron frame, so that the rake, with
its iron teeth, three inches long and set
three inches apart, lifts up the oysters and
passes them into the bag. These two iron
arms on each corner, which unite in a
ring, is where the rope is attached when
dragging it over the bed. 1t weighs thirty
pounds, and will hold about live bushels
of oysters ~
And this" said Harry, placing his
hand on the windlass, "is how it is wound
in?"
"Ges; ii is very laborious and dar ger-
ous work. Sometimes. when tho boat is
sailing fast, the dredae becomes hung
which causes the handles to reyolve with
frightful velocity, and many persons have
met their deaths by being hit and knocked
overheard. This piece Of half-moon
shaped oak screwed on to tho rail-" said
the captain, lis called tho 'chock,' and it
is over this that the rope passes from the
windass to the Jredgc."
How long does il take TO fill drodgePn
asked Harry.
From twenty minutes to half au hour,
according to the length ofthe bed, replied
the cartain.
"Aro the oysters very deep in the wa.
ter?" inquired Harry.
"1n about tw enty-ve feet the drcdgo
will catch them. The tongmen can take
them in shallow water from FIVE to six
feet deep"
Tongmen; who aro they?'
They fish for oysters from small boats
using two poles crosswisc, with long iron
teeth, which fit tightly together when
closed. They are opened and shut like a
pair of scissors, and will bring up about a
half bushel."
Darkness was fast settling upon the wa
ters and, after witnessing the lighting of
the lamps and seoinG them placed in the
rigging, Harry retired to tho cabin and
soon fell asleep In his berth, to be aroused
tho next morning before daylight bv the
clanklng of chains and lramping of feet on
deck.
Springing from his berth, he hastily
dressed, performed his morning ablutions,
and sat down to his breakfast which Moses
had just brought in,
We're on dc beds now, Mas'r Harry"
said Moses.
Are we'" asked Harry in surprise. and
without waiting to finish his break fast, he
went on deck.
There were boats, with every sail set in
all directions. some OF which came so un.
comfortably close to the Annie as TO cause
Harry considerable uneasinesS.
Tie watched the men ut work at the
windlaSs, us the boa! reached the end of
the bed.
The dredge was dumped, and as the
schooner swung around to 20 back the
dredgo was dropped again, and so the
operation was repeated until the cargo
was complete. The water frozc on the
clothing of the men, and their fingers
were red and numb with cold from con-
slant handling of the oysters and the iron
rims of the dredge.
\ great mass Of refuse matter-shells
and grass, and marine animals, periwin.
kles, starllsh and iish-were brought up in
the dredge. The periwinkles and starlish
were removed TO one side, while the shells
and grass were again cast back into the
water, to form beds to which the Young
oysters could adhere.
About noon the work Of dredging was
done, and the men, cold and hungry after
performing their respective duties, each
brought his lin cup and tin plate to the
galley, where Moses filled each cup with
collee and each plate with corn bread, q
large piece of fat pork and quantity Of
beans.
Harry viewed this proceeding with
astonishment, and while he was thinking
over the hardships Of a sailors life white
pun OF SDlOkc dLtIdClcu MS 8ItentIOn, anu
tho sound Of gun doomed over the
water.
"Look look! unclew he shouted. "See
that steamer after tho puggy!"
Captain Covington brought his glass to
bear upon the object pointed out by
Harry, so as to get a more distinct idea of
what was going on.
Yes, sure enough" he remarked, re-
moving the glasses from his eyes. that is
a Virginia pungy, which has trangressed
the law Of passing on forbidden ground
in Maryland. and that is the police boat,
and it has captured the punSy, crew and
ALL"
"What will be done with thcm?''
Tho men will be fined and imprisoned,
and tho pungy con6scated and sold by tho
United Stated marshal.
They were ON their way to Crislield
now, and rs they moorod to the wharf
Harry said
"fhave seen and learned great deal,
uncle, but don't think would like TO bo
a sailor in tho Wt,ster time"
And taking his valiso, ho badc Moses
good.by for the present, and hurried away