The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-23

stingrays. and turtles, are transferred to
the boats with dip-nets, amidst the widest
splutteration and tapping OF every kind i'm
aginable OF tails and tins. When good sea
is running the scene is much more exciting,
and rendered doubly interesting by the fish
ermen's superb handling OF their boats in
rough water. The stingray Is one OF the
most formidable fish which frequents our
coasts. It's weapon Is keen serated piece
of bone encased in the tail, and very often
breaks off In the painful wound made by It..
AN HISTORICAL NAME.
Slingaray Point, some distance up the
bay, was so named because Captain John
Smith, on one Of his exploring expeditions,
was there struck in the arm by one OF those
fish. The famous hog-fsh isabout the only
kind that escapes the fatal pounds, SWIM
ming two close on the bottom, and is only
to be taken with the hook and line. He
roots among the grass like his dry-land
cousin, has the same straight, elongated
style OF nose. but was so named chiefly
from his grunt, which is an exact imitation
OF that OF hog. He is considered the
finest Of all fish. being OF unrivalled flavor
and at this season is at his best.
FISH FACTORIES.
On Back river and Viewpoints there are
large steam establishments for making oil
and fertilizers from fish which do big
business; but il is not desirable to make
personal inspection unless ones olfactory
nerves are copper-lined. The fish used for
those purposes are principally alewiyes,
and the fleet engaged in catching them may
be seen at all hours Of the day flockIng to and
fro about the bay. In the clear morning
light. when the sun freshens up their rusty
hulIs and tanned sails, they produce 4
highly picturesque effect, though in some
what lubberly contrast TO the dashing pie
ture Of an oyster-yacht beating out under
full canvas, the water just whitening I'M
der her sharp iore-ioOt as she stretches over
TO the spirit with the easy, graceful speed
OF deer-hound seeming the chase.
The vessels built along the Chesapeake are
peculiar to its waters, no other models in
the country exhibiting any OF their pecu-
lIaritles whatever. They are the otfsprings
Of the once celebrated Baltimore clipper,
with varied notifications OF the parent
model. The PUNCHES and buckeyes have
reached their highest development on the
Eastern Shore OF Maryland, but the con-
struction OF the canoe is confined chiefly
20 the PequoSin and Back rivers in Nir-
ginia.
CANOE-BUILDERs.
Generally open boats and sharp at both
ends, they are fashioned from three or
more immense trees with the adze and
broad.axe. Beyond a deck-plan, by which
the top sides are draughted, the builder
has nothing to guide him but his eye, and
the accurate manner in which he news out
the separate pieces, joins and finishes them
oil into such handsome craft is truly won
derful. When finished the typical canoe,
such as is used in the pound fisheries,
is an unlocked boat. thirty-tiye feet
long and eight feet wide. with lines
showing a long and slightly hol-
low bow, moderate dead-rse, and the
cleanest OF runs. They are all tine
saiers, and when properly managed have
no superiors for ability and general sea-
going qualities. A trip to a lighthouse is
always full Of exciting incidents during
the day, and not the least attractive phase
is TO lounge out on the portico at night lis
tening to the sonorous boom OF the drum
fish around the pies below. and fall asleep,
lulled by the steady piping OF the sea-wind
and the long, cool swash Of waters.
SPINNING YARNS.
The old captain will recount to his adj
miring audience his early adventures on
the great deep, such rs being chased by pr
rates and OF finding vessel with every one
OF her lifeless crew spiked to the deck;
also descriptions OF appalling gales, and one
in particular during which Il terrific sea
that swept everything from the ships deck
was OF such magnitude that when she sunk
i'm its hollow the sun, that had broken
through the clouds at 8 O'Clock, was CON-
pleteIy hidden behind its towering crest. Ii
midity prevents many persons with aquatic
tastes from enjoying the thrilling fascination
OF a cruise in open water, but for any one
who has nerve enough to appreciate little
danger, and dares to brave old Neptune in
his boisterous moods on some breezy morn
when a shril northeastern heaves the blue
expanse into thousands Of foamy contor-
tions and the swift clouds come soaring up
from the horizon, IL il they, the visible
wings OF the gale, let him take tne sail.
Ing craft, trim her by the wind, and rs she
goes knitting along. her keen nose rip
ping through the waves and tossing
them to the leeward in waste OF foam,
then realize what constitutes the poetry
and art of sailing: il the white, distended
sail. the bounding motion, and the sting OF
the salt spray on his cheek does not con-
vince him that il is the most eXhiarating
sport in existence, then he is lubber in
deed. and should be keel-hauled accord
inVlV w.