Daily Republican., 1884-03-11
THE fIAhING SEASON.
Active Preparations by the Fisher.
men Tor vheir Annual Campaign.

The season for the departure Of the
fishermen from their winter quarters to
the fishing grounds down the bay IL
near at hand, and active preparations
are now going on despite the unfavOr-
able outlook, which this month thus far
has presented. The time for starting
on this cruise is between the middle
and last Of March, and by the 18TH Of
the month fully fifteen boats will have
left this city, each boat to have one net
and two men.
During the seas on the local fisher.
men live in floating cabins, which are
stationed at the mouth Of Duck creek,
near Bombay Hook, on the Delaware
bay. At this point there Is also sta
toned what is known AZ Il lay boat,
which Is ready at all times to carry the
fish to Philadelphia buyers at the
mouth of Hope creek on the Jersey
shore. The mode of fishing is very
simple, and is thus described by a vii
mington fisherman The nets generally
used are from 400 to 700 fathOms long,
and are cast when the tides are favor
able, flood tide being considered the best.
After being cast they are allowed to re-
main in the water from two to five
hours, when they are hauled in and the
fish deposited in the holds of the fishing
boats, which are 20 to 22 feet in length
and nearly feet beam. Nearly all OF
the fish, when taken out of the bay are
alive and will keep about three days.
Delaware shad have the reputation of
being the hes, in the market, and when
caught weigh from three and half to
NIX pounds one haul of a seine often
brings in from three hundred to four
hundred. While the present weather,
in some respects, Is against the fisher
men, IL Is also a great advantage, for
the reason that quantity of Ice to the
northwest, which sweeps down the
river, naturally drives the shad by the
thousands into the salt water OF the
bay, which is much warmer, thereby
the season more prosperous.
A fisher mans life is one of novelty.
They live in floating cabins during the
shad season, and spend their spare
moments i'll social enjoyment. Most
of these cabins contain six fishermen
and cook. They are on the alert az
early as . O'Clock in the morning and
before daylight breaks Oh the eastern
horizon, up and down the river and
bay, for miles on either side may be
seen one continuous light of the lamps
carried by the various boats. When
the season Is good Il fisherman will
clear nearly $1,000, and when not 80
good his profit is cut down to $500 or
800.
There has been considerable dis
cussion among the fishermen in this
city of the advisablity Of keeping the
shad in the Wilmington market this
season instead Of sending them to
Philadelphia. They are about equally
divided on the subject, and it Is not
known what action will be taken. TO|
those who have some one to dispose of
their fish in this market it makes but
little difference. as they can realize
more from their fish by selling them on
the street, but to those who are COM
PEELED to sell to wholesale dealers can
realize considerably more by dealingI
with Philadel phia parties. The whole |
sale prices here range from u to SOL
per hundred, while in the Philadelp hfa
market prices range frem So to $50 per
hundred.
Among Wilmington's most import
ant shad fishermen are the following
II. Tpdike, George Lippincott,
John Maxwell, William Hanson, JOS.
Locke, Candy Cox, Harry Biddle,
Thomas Mcbride, jefferson Garrison
and others. Persons who observe lenten
season and feast on fish will hail the
advent of Delaware shad with pleasure,
when they can be purchased
vt reasonable figure. The first and
largest shad of the season was seen a |
few days ago in the window of Fullmer's
resta urant, which was served up to his
customers in his usual good style.