Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-09-04
poRrorsB r1sHINe.
Some interesting Facts I'M 0onnec-
tion with Their Capture-Tho
Value OF the FISH How Used.

Some interesting Facts IN 0onnec-
taOn with Their Capture-Tho
vaIue OF the FISH How Used.
The Porpoise Fishing Company Of Cape
May, an organisation in which several
Wilmington capitalists are interested, has
been prosecuting q prosperous business
during the present summer at the mouth
Of the Delaware bay. Its novelty as .
commercial industry aud the development
Of which II Is capable OF serves to make
the subject one Of live interest. A gen.
tlsmsn residing In th:s city is Inn
pressed strongly with the Possibilities
Of pOrpose fishing as an Industry that
will pay large returns. The supply OF
fab Ia almost limitless and may be had
without cost, for the catching. Hundreds
OF schools numbering from a score to 200
msy daily be- seen disporiing th, mselves
abnnt the mouth OF Dslsware Bay. They
are found in abundance around Cape
Henloren, sufficiently numerous to war
rant the conjecture that this IL their
natural habitat.
The porpolse, like the whale, is not
0shed for until he is seen. Upon sight
ing him the fishermen start to sot their
net. The net, which is 9 sbine and
necessarily very extensive and cuu ber-
some load Ia Usually carried on q
steamer. It is a thousand yards long and
constructed In three separate sections,
which, when In position form the section
OF q circle, the shore making the chord,
and the curve the net, which Is deep
enough to approximate the sea bottom
the whole structure thus forming bag
whose limits are gradually contracted as
the shore is neared by the fishermen.
The centre section ia made Of stouter
material than than the wings for 1t Ia
there that the greater strain Ia and II Ia
also the point where the fab oongregate
| just previous to the critical moment Of
| their capture.
Upon sighting school Of porpoises, q
small boat which has line aboard at
tsohed to one end of the net Is sent ashore
from the steamer, thus right angle or
corner 10 made with the shore, and the
remaining dispositions Of the expert por-
poise fisher are simply to keep his fiah
there until he has managed to get the
other end OF hia net ashore The steamer
makes o detour with her end OIL
the net, cautiously emitting off the
escape Of the unwary porpoises, paying
out the net as 1t steams along. When
the fsh are surrounded, boat 10 sent
ashore with the steamers end Of the mel
when each is grasped by q set of mer
who slowly and cautiously take II in IL
the same manner as is customary with 1
common seine. Many fish escape BY
breaking through the meshes. II il
probable that not more than rs per cen
Of the catch is secured.
Though the porpoise makes tremen
dous splash and struggle in the surf, a
soon as he 10 out Of water he lies prom,
on the strand apparently dead. Jus
before dragging the catch ashore Ia tn
critical moment. In order to insure q
large haul as possible, 1t is necessar,
to repel any attempt by the scared por
poises to make rush for escape espsci
ally at either wings OF the net wher
the msshes are relatively wide an
] weak. To provide against such miH
fortune, the whole Of the toilers com
mence shouting, hooting and bawling
: the utmost limit Of their lung power
, this is continued, aided by the shri
! whistle Of the steamer, until the fish az
landed. The net is frequently fouled b
D by coming in contact with old sunke
. wreckaRe. In one instance, at Cape May
r a whales rib feet in length was haule
up.
I When the fab are secured they al
q stuck with knife and killed they al
8 then placed on scow and towed to IL
!, boiling houses. In few minutes the
q are suspended TO block and tackle ar
Q skinned. The blubber, which ia u
valuable part Of the fish, sdheres to u
Q skin to the extent in the average fish
8 about an inch In thickness. This
y scraped off the skin into tubs ready 4
y the purpose and Is tried out into oil. II
q skin is then ready for the tanner and
Il made into beautiful leather.
d Il Is calculated that from IL to Is 20
n Ions Of oil are obtained from the avsrsi
l. fish. Besides that very valuable xii
d of oil ia obtained from the porpoise's hei
d which is used by watohmakers. II
Il carcases are hesped together and pi
Df pared for compost.
Il 1t 10 expected that there will soon be
10 market for the flesh Of this fish as an a
d mentary food for human beings. T.
,t superintendent Of the Cape May fishe
q stated that his company is in oorrespo
re denoe with New York parties upon t
ID subject, of its treatment as mince mel
He stated, additionally, that he, q
4. numbers of others at Cape May had eat
lie it., and all considered 1t very good. It
Of said 10 taste very like vsnison, and IL
N there 10 an entire Absence Of fshiness
le the flsvor--the truth ia porpoise ste
y is veritable delicacy.
to Its flesh in past times was considered
IL great delicsoy, and in old-time cooke
81 books receipts for dressing il may cas-
IS be found. The oil procured from {
a blubber is OF the purest kind; II
In quoted in the New York market at
ss cents gallon, and the dressed hide
to 50. Tho meat, as a food, is sold at t
in cents per pound wholesale. The he
" oil, two ounces to each fish, is estimat
re- at IS gallon.
n For Eve weeks, commencing the 18th
ID July last the catch Of porpoisss number
le 1877 head. The expenses during Il
lg period were inside $1,000. The requisi
10 for prosecuting this business are not We
10 extensive or expensive. They inolu
al FIVE or sig surf boats, two substant
10 soows, a steamer, also the necessary sh,
IL and boiling houses. About 1000 val
d, of net are sufficient and the help OF fir
ne scors to rs men according to the seast
II. If there be market for the mar
" featured article, the gain on an inve
ID ment In this industry must show lar
Id percentage of profit. 1t should be
4, menbered that through the pres,
y. system of operation quite rs per cent
BY the fish ia lost through the using of
Il, adequate apparatus. 1t will be resd
70 ssen that the margin Of profit wher
ir more perfect seine is used will be mu
We greater still.
10 A prominent dealer in fish oils sta
q that he could handle all the oil obtair
al at IS cents. Another dealer said Il
70 porpoise oil is the nearest approach t
good substitute for the now comparative
TX scarce sperm oil that has as yet sppeal
q in the market.
he
I'd Death of senator Anthony.
is PRovIDENcE, R. l. Sept. 2.-sena
Henry B. Anthony died here at l