Morning journal and courier., 1884-08-09
HAULING THE POUND.
A Summer Day by the Sea. ., rr5;+o,. If tJ1a IorrRHAI AND CoT1RIER:

To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 In the country, how great change there
 is between winter and summer. We live at
 the seaside and the loneliness of winter is full
 ly made up by the sports of summer. Did
 you ever go in bathing with large crowd?
 If you have not half the vacation's pleasure
 has been lost. Perhaps if give you de-
 scription of day's events you may be inter
 ested. We agreed John and to rise at 3:30
 a. m. and go fishing. After good nights
 rest we met in the hall each going to call the
 other at 4:30. (Who ever walked when they
 wanted toD After making a raid on the
 pantry and then on the pear tree we started
 for the sea with one winkle and about fifty
 beach bugs. With these we expected to catch
 all the whales in the Sound. After rowing off to the reef about two and one-half miles
 we cast anchor and put overheard our bait.
 The first bite we had reflected credit on the
 pantry rather than the sea, but after u' few
 minutes patient waiting we were encouraged
 to waste some more bait. Soon there was pull on myseine, then sudden run and l
 had him, 6 fine large blackfsh, a two pound
 CT. Soon John had nibbles and he pulled ill
 ''dandy" large enough to furnish Polyphe-
 mus meal. Thus it went on for about an
 hour and half and we had about thirty pounds of nice blackfsh. The sun
 then commenced to climb the horizon and the
 reality of his presence was felt rather than
 seen. It was almost breakfast time. So we 'rowed ashore and made bargain with the
 captain to dress the fish while we prepared
 for bath I can see the bath house even
 now, long, low building, with apparel of
 various dimensions strewn from one end to
 the other. There were about ten ladies and
 six gentlemen, attired in wet clothes, all of
 which illustrated the old saying of Sticking
 like a sick kitten to hot brick" In this gear we had to walk about forty rods to get to the right place, for this town has it's bath ing houses, and everything else in fact, built on the principle that the longest way round is the shortest way home. However, we got there though missiles and beach grass did their best to prevent us. The ladies are always first in the water and it was so in this case. With a whoop that would put the Indians in the shade one was in and then another until you could see the water mark rise a couple of inches as the result of the jumping up and down process, which all like to share either in fact or in look. We got boat and per suaded some of the ladies to dive. Did you ever see that performance
 It has to be seen to be appreciated; though this time the exit from the boat and gliding into the water would shame even the best l porpoise. The boys would turn somersaults l until some overpowered their fear l and tried it, but Father Neptune | run down the throat and the maidens did not l try it but once. This continued for about | three hours, until we were at temperature | that would beat zero by or degrees and then we thought we had had enough to satis- fly all our bathing desires and so strolled | back across the missiles to dress. By that time the fishermen were ready to haul the | pound, glorious treat to one who has never seen it done. This morning they caught about 20, ,000 fish and one great shark large enough to make more than a hundred pounds | of swordfsh if no one is looking on when it is dressed. By this time we were hungry enough to eat the moon even though the cheese would probably be mouldy on account of the damp weather, and we all did justice to the noon grub. The afternoon was spent in rowing, catching winkles, digging dams, etc. After supper we went to 8 church so ciable, where everybody sat and looked at | everybody else and occasionally shook hands | with. of course their tongues going all the time. By nine o'clock some ladies suggested | 8 moonlight bath and row. All were up i'm dLu SOOI It was proved GQaG the three hours bathing of the morning had killed no one, for there they were the same old crowd splashing about like so many DOT poises with occasionally a floating face up turned to the moon, which by it's pale light | reflected seemingly sight that at least was suggestive. Then the same run to the bath house, and then the row by moonlight. Nc one was tired. Oh, no! not one. Yet some were so cold that they looked upon home as more comfortable than boat at that time of night. Yet we had more than enough to fill two boats, and rowed and sang and laughed and talked until the moon had all most reached the zenith and then with our little remaining strength pulled the boat up and went home; then heavy enough to sink ! ship we sank to sleep at 1 o'clock dream ing of the pleasant days to come. Don't you think enjoy ourselves by the sea. Rain pr shine it is all the same, bathe and row we must do. This is a sample and if any are influenced by this description to try life at he seaside may they find it as pleasant as we do. L.