The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-05-19
The Susquehanna Fisheries.

HAvRE DE GRACE, MAY ~, 1882.
The Susquehanna fisheries this season have
been highly satisfactory, and the hauls last week
were in many cases enormous. This week they
have not been SO good, owing to unfayorable
weather, though they have been fully up to
average. stranger visiting one Of the floats
for the first time, and witnessing large haul
which varies from one thousand to sixty thou.
sand herring and from few up to seven hun.
drcd shad, is struck with astonishment and
wonders how long il would take at that rate to
clear the river of its iinny tribe But the fish.
ing has gone on for years, and the fish are still
here. The season began this year about April
10 and will end about May %. The law stops
the seine fisheries June 10, but warm weather
&c, stops them before. From away up above
the city down to about the mouth of the river,
dotting the stream like villages are the floats
large barges, equipped with machinery for haul
ing the seines, facilities for cleaning and packing
the fish, fresh or sailed, and accommodation for
man or beast. This is where the stationary
seine-ilshng being done, the gilling, or floating
seinc-iishing is being done from boats The float
fishing is the greater industry of the two The
floats each employ about forty men, who work
from early morning until well into the night,
eating and sleeping on these wooden islands
From one and three-quarters to three hours are
necessary to make haul, according to the
length Of senes, which vary from $50 to So
fathoms
The seine with its haul is drawn slowly over
the bottom of the river. Thousands of fish
wriggling about in the bright sun make sight
worth seeing. As the seine is hauled in one
end is carefully drawn aboard the seine boat,
and after the fish are landed the balance is plac.
ed aboard. the boat manned by the crew with
their long oars, who start Off at once and lay it
for another catch. An old fisherman knows be-
fore the seine is landed whether he has good
haul. Sometimes the catch is so large that the
fish cannot he drawn over the apron, and then
ll.,p I,,.. 80,
The average number of hauls day is siX-sOme-
times more, sometimes less. The fish are clean.
ed and packed on the float, fresh or sailed, as the
case requires.
The floats engaged in fishing in the SusQue.
danna are: Jarrett Spencer ~ Sons, (steam haul.
ing; Silver N Courtney, (steam, and W. ii. Ew-
ing, (horse power,D all above Watson's Island
Cole ~ Bailey, (hOrse power at Watson's Island :;
and the following below the city; Serricks "
Pennlng, (steam,) opposteli2ht house; Brown "
Carver, (steam), opposite Old Bay shore; Car
yer IL Co., (horse power) Spesutia Island; j.
Osmond " Co., one float on the east side, about
three miles below llavrc de Grace, and one on
the west side, the latter hauling partly by steam
Perry Barnes " Co., Carpenters Point; Caru-
theirs, Red Banks; j. W. Shippers, Carrot Cove,
and Whitaker, White Banks, all horse power
Fishermen say that the effect of artificial shad
spawning is yet to be seen. Mr.. Bailey, an eN-
pcrienccd fisherman, says he has noticed no in.
crease since it began, but admits it is an open
question whether they would have decreased
had there been no artificial propo CATION Mr.
Herman Osmond, who has been fishing here
eighteen years, says the artificial spawn has no
influence on the shad. More were caught in 1874
and 1910 (about the commencement of the artif-
cal propagation) than in any two springs since.
He thinks that, even without artificial aid, there
will be no decrease. More shad are caught
down the bay than ever, but that is due TO the
improved methods employed. There is no
doubt but that shad have been artiiicially pro
pagatcd, hut what good it has done is yet to BE-
settled The herring catch last season was larry
or than ever before. Pleasure parties frequent
ly visits the floats and enjoy Il pIanked shad
fresh caught. Ex-Mayor Latrobe, of Baltimore,
Hon. John l.. Thomas and Mr. X. Q. Taylor
were at Osmund's last week, and Senator Cor
man, Hon. Robert NJ. McLane, Hon. j. F. c.
Talbot and Hon J. C.S. Blackburn are expected
thisor early next week. They will be the guests
of Murray Nandiyer, and will make Herman
Osmonds the object of attack for the congress
sional appetites. In a few weeks the seasonwil
be over, and the floats will be packed away
in the hollow at Havrc de Grace TO wait for
next sDrinr,-SUu