Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-07-26
CHfNCOTE5GU E.
Importing Ftrewood FrOtn tH Maiu-
Iand-Nautfcai Cruisers or Land
The Fish Factories.


Iand-Nautfcai Cruisers on Land
The Fish Factories.
Special Correspondence Of state J1urn'l
CHiNoorEAeuR, July 70 The other
morning saw schooner moorrd at the
and Of wharf Ill front OF the Atlantic
House, ani. piled up Ill INSIDE of the
vessel q itt IT PIN c1,tNeod | walked
over and asked the osptsin whittier he
he was about to take the WOOD.
"Nawhere," he said Il brought it
here from the mainland.
Ii answer TO my set, nished queries he
went on to sas that he often handled
such eargors ~ that hs had made a,
much rs $500 in three mol.ths hv freight
ing wood to C..iucoteseue.
Aud yet there IL considerable timber
upon the island 1t was the most strik
ing commentary upon the aqnado nature
If the psppie that | had seen. They ne
fer to fish, and let landsmen chop tntir
frewood for them.
The same pro- ensity accounts ia =
measure for the location aud style of tLeir
houses. Where else can you find set,
dement, of ., 500 souls. dwelling in a towu
without corporation aud without
streets His domieile on land ia q
secondary matter to the Cbineotesgue
fisherman ne cares not for street, or
sidewalk or corner lamp; his real home
and the home OF hia family is on the
water, and his wifi. and boys can handle
rudder or oar aud make or shorten sail
nearly as we'll as ne can himself.
The taking of oysters is forbidden by
law durin, the summer season and the
al al h..
and divide their time between cruising
about the sound in skiffs aud over the
land in the few horse carts aud wagons
available. 1t is an amusing sight 10
watch cart load of them getting under
way from the hotel porch. A fat old
fellow who looks as If he were born with
his "sea legs" on is anchored amidships
on the deck OF the cart, while before,
behind and over him are the longer legs
and slenderer bodies of younger eaits.
They have evidently already had several
drinks and are slowly slowing themselves
away in their strange craft when the old
chap sings out for the driver TO 'Cast of
and heave ahead |"
"Hold | Lay to there Delay all, and
let's splice the main brace agsin -
shouts another and the long legged
youngsters tumble out, grab the ancient
mariner and drag him towards the bar
for another round.
No Systematic attempt at farming or
trucking except on the most limited scale
is made on the island. There are a few
fruit trees around some OF the houses,
but their owners say, when asked,
"Peaches won't do we'll here the sile's
too thin" Here and there small patch
of fair corn is seen. 1t looks like good
country for growing watermelons and
sweet potatoes.
The "fish factories" are the leading in
dustry at present. There are three of
them on the island aud each factory en-
ploys several sloops and considerable
number of hands. The nearest one to
the town, about mile distant, is devoted
to the manufacturer of 8 fertilizer tEota
the oaroasses of menhaden treated with
sulphurie acid and othor ingredients !;
the other two handle the fish for the
sake of the oil they contain, after extract
ing which they transfer tie refuse to the
fertilizer factory. The proprietor of the
latter keeps six fishing vessels going,
which bring in from 900 to3 600 bushels
| Of menhadsn daily. They follow schools
| of these fishes sometimes AZ far as 20
miles out st sea (; the whereabouts of a
school being plainly indicated BY the
| darkening of the water above it.
A great many people are not aware that
Chincoteague is within such easy reach
of your city or Philadelphia. You eau
board the train leaving Wilmington at
| 3 10 a. m. and reach here by p. nj. Do
not expect TO find surf or good bathing
bathing here, however; for Chincotessut
hes not ON the the sea, hut in the sound
between the Virginia mainland aud
Assstesgue, being separated from ths
latter on the east by a narrow arm
of the sound, quarter nltt
or less in width. Cros5 IN
and the tongue OF sand aud sail
| marsh of which Assateasue il COM
| posed, which is about . mile wide, snd
| you reach .he ocean aud stand nppn q
| prglnua etion of the sSne beach thai
| stretches down and mp from Ocean City
splendid beach upon which heavy
| surf continually hrsska. But there al,
Motel Ii or cottages tuere and tie s-Ae
IS seid ia marked by ott4r tOot pTiur
than those If the liz saving patrcluen
SAoul the GerGes. storms and .he cJiG n
aud most b!iehtirs slset Nevay dli7'
from ta-ir nightly teats. ~.