Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-11-16

The fishing feet of Cancale, both for
dredging oysters and catching fab, num-
bers more than 200 lugger-ribbed craft OF
small tonnage. These boats are owned
partly by single individuals, partly by their
crews, who have dubbed together for CO.
partnership. Their tackle and gear cost
as much as the boats and sails; the nets,
which are chiefly made at Nantes, being
the great item of expense. The seine 10
never used; the trawl, which 10 fitted with
O huge head-bag or receptacle, being the
sort OF snare generally adopted. Each boat
has funcuonary called mistress: that
ls, o woman who has contracted, under
certain conditions, for the sale of the take
of the craft. The crew have, therefore,
nothing to do with the disposal OF the fish.
The produce of the sale Effected by the
''mistress" 10 generally divided into five
parts-two to the owner or owners of the
boat, one to the skipper and two to the
crew, the woman having previously deduc-
ted her legitimate profits. The life OF
'Uancalais", as these fishermen dub them
selves, il one even more rife with danger
than that or others of their calling. The
Bay of Mont st. Michel is one OF the most
perllous seas in the world. Equatorial
Cdeg rise in 1t to the height of fifty feet,
and ordinary tides to Lhirty-flve feet. The
distance between high and low water
marks Ia more than SIX miles in some
places, and the rapidIty Of the currents,
especially on stormy day, maelstrom-
like. Q1icksands, too, are numerous, and
boat shoaled on one OF them during ebb-
tide has little chance OF its crew being
saved; as regards itself, none. In calm
weather the boats fish In the ghallowest
waters, their keels occasionally heeling in
the mud; and here they take soles, turbot,
doree, brill and skate IN considerable
quantities. Government foEblds fishing
within a mile of the shore; but so soon as
night sets i'm and screens the fishermen and
their fleets from the lookoHts of the steam
gunboat at Granville and the coast guard
sailing schooner at Cancale, the boats are
run within the prescribed limits, and the
forbidden fruit tasted. Oysters are allow
ed to be taken only on certain days ut Ger
tain times Of the year, strict watch being
kept by the two vessels above mentioned
from which signals are made when dredg-
ine ID TO commence AID to cease. Fishing
proper, however, goes on all the year, the
only restriction, with the exception OF the
fixed distance from the shore, as already
mentioned, being that OF maiIage, or size
of the meshes of the nets. Meshes wider
by the fraction OF an inch only, having
been ordered by the Government TO be
used and their use continued for few
years, brought the population OF Cancals
TO the verge of starvation, fishes that were
entangled before escaping now. In fact,
30 momentous a question 10 this one OF
mailage among class OF individuals who
earn their living from the depths OF the
sea that candidates for State or municipal
Offices invariably promise the electors to
obtain for them the privilege OF smaller
meshes for the fishing nets, that promise,
whether carried ont or not, being che only
safe card" for securing success. Mailage
is the bug bear of Cancalais