The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-05-03
R WASHINGTON LETTER,

f fSh sHINGToN. d. c., April %, 1884.
gen,rceIy Republican Convention
eat far held for the selection of del
apies to Chicago has failed to adopt
everltions commendatory of Mr.. Ar
quas administration. While that
the do esteems it as wise, patriotic
ana ,minently satisfactory manage
oone of our public affairs, Massach-
duaD, and indeed all New England,
and 'se the administration in Ian
5heA that cannot be surpassed in ex.
ling admiration of both Mr.. Ar.
maihnd his methods. Such endorse
lattes as these, coming from the rep,'t
ana tative gathering of the great Re-
state can party all over the country.
with,t but be source Of qualification
scene President, whatever may be
menutcome of the effort on the part
watf friends to secure the Chicago
T,nation. From the character
the complexion of the delegations
'sphave already been selected. Mr..
excelr's chances are certainly as
iandas those of any other candidate.
but it is generally supposed that these
spring fish, after depositing their spawn
on the Newfoundland coast, are the
same which afterward appear fat and
large on the Labrador coast. Although
the migrations of the herring are not
perfectly understood, it is supposed that
local and atmospheric changes enter
largely into the causes for which the
fish will leave part of the coast sud
denly and only appear again after the
lapse of years as suddenly as they dis
appeared.
Although herring are captured with
nets and seines, much as other fish are,
yet there is process known as 'weir-
fishing" which differs essentially.
Weir-tishing is conducted as follows:
Young fir trees are driven into the soft
mud or sand at ebb tide so thickly that
their branches interlace each other.
When full tides set in and brings the
fish, they are caught in the mass of
branches which the brush or weir pre-
sents, and the retreating tide leaves
them stranded and at the mercy OF the
fisherman, who soon collect and salt
them down in barrels furnished for the
purpose by some trader who purchases
the fish at a stipulated price. The
usual herring nets are generally thirty
fathoms or $50 feet long by thirty feet
deep, and good fishing fills from six to
twelve barrels day, or rather at each
haul winch IS generaiiy once Gay.
HeiheS are gelotaliy w. " Low iaSno 4LS
iong, anu aoout tG. deeC Yep w lie .hs
sn Ieson 10 ''oiuins ~ 'n0 SiAo u 'n'
eoiool'
With regard to the curing of these
| fish, 1t is well asserted by Mr.. Town
send that ''of all the mercantile fish
herring is the most delicate and tender
and is therefore the most liable to dam
age from the air and heat after they are
out of the water. Herring ought to be
scaled, washed and in pickle as soon as
possible after they are out of the wa
ter; not a moment ought to be lost that
can be avoided. The flesh being SO
delicate and tender, not only Injuries
quickly by exposure, but is much les;
liable to take the salt. On the Other
hand, if the herring get into pickle in
clean state before they have been any
time exposed they take the salt quicker
and therefore preserve much better the
natural quality and taste of the fish )
On the Labrador coast the herring are
generally simply packed in brine il
barrels and sent at once to the Quebec
markets.
In Mr.. Perlev's .Renort Of the Fish
cries in the Bay of Fundv.n the man
,ner of curino herring is fins described
The fish are sealed by being washed il
bushel baskets with a so1ara bottom
omen like a coarse sieve the man stand
inc in tbe water nm 70 his knees The
hest fish have very few scales and onl,
half a bushel of them are taken in th,
basket at once. thev are then sailed il
large tnhs the salt heinz stirred through
them hv hand. onantity nsad 10 half
hushel Of salt to two barrels and a hal
of fish which are a tnh fnIl Tbav Ii,
in salt twentv-four hours and are The,
wasbad in fresh water RI ,revent the;,
becoming .ssait- burnt ~ after which tho,
are strung on rods with their heads al
ono wov and thor hunr mn in n,
Smoko- house Tn CIementS The smor,
houses are uspallv thirty feet sonare
with fourteen feet posts and a hioh root
NO fish bano nearer the fire than seve,
80 r.. ~ ,,,,.+ ,o,,of,,I 1,,,,,ov,. a., -