The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-04-17

READY FOR THE SHAD.
Interesting Facts About GIOueesfer's
Big Fishery.


Interesting Facts About GIoueesfer's
Big Fishery.
Camden Courier.
At the Prospect Hill fishery, situated in
the extreme southern portion of Glouces-
ter City, the work of repairing the nets,
caulking the large and small boats, over
hauling the lead and cork lines and get
ting the capstans in readiness for the APP
preaching shad season was commenced by
Captain Stewart and some half dozen men
on Thursday last. Captain Stewart has
had control of the fishery for the past if
teen years, and from the fact of his hav-
ing had so much experience in the bust
ness and control of men, he makes an ex-
cellent overseer. He will retain his posi-
ton through the coming season. Captain
Stewart has a small force of men on at
present, but will increase the force mex
week so that the work Of tarring the net,
repairing the boats, etc, may be finished
up by Saturday night next. The four
large capstans supporting the windlasses
by which the ropes attached to the net are
drawn ashore will be placed in position
next week, also, this being about the last
thing lone in the way of repairs. The
shad fishermen will then quietly await un-
til the weather permits and the shad make
their appearance in the river.
The time for commencing operations is
the 10th of April, but this year, on ac-
z-.-. r a. --oo 4 - -s,- 90. aDT1 l,p.,r
the month of March they Will not get
started before the 18th or Goth of this
month. 1t requires about sixty men to
run the fishery, and it is considered ex-
which is nine hundred yards long and
fifty feet deep, is placed in the stern of a
boat about fifty-five feet long and eigh-
teen strong pair of arms send it skimming
through the water in spite of its load. One
end of a line attached to the net is made
fast ON the shore. and as the boat is flying
through the water and making a circuit of
about a half a mile, the net plays out from
the stern. A line attached to the other
end of the net is brought ashore, when the
work of hauling the net and its load of fish
ashore is commenced. The fishermen wade
into the water up to their waist and wind a
small piece of rope through the net and
over their shoulders. and pull with all the
strength in them. As the net is being
brought ashore the men at each end of it are
gradually coming together. and as the
centre of the net approaches the shore, it
forms a bag in which the fish are found
kicking. squirting and jumping, in the
endeavor to escape. On pleasant days
during the season great crowds come over
from Philadelphia to witness the opera
ton, making a regular picnic of the occa-
sion. At times the crowd is so large and
they stand so close to the waters edge in
their endeavor TO see all that is going on
that they interfere with the men employed
in getting the fish out of the net. Those
present often purchase shad as they are
taken out of the water alive and kicking,
at prices ranging from se~venty-fiye cents
to one dollar and a quarter apiece.
Five hauls are made every twenty-four
hours. ana IL taxes ABOUT Two h"uis loA
every haul. As soon as the net is pulled
ashore the fish are put into a small boat
and taken to Dock street, Philadelphia,
from which place they are sold. Last year
was not a very profitable one, the shad be-
ing scarce. The largest catch made was
1,2S0 shad at one haul.
The proprietors tried the experiment
last year of not allowing the men whisky
while at work, and it proved such a sue
cess in the way Of having more work done
that the same programme will be carried
out this year. Some three years ago all
white men were employed to operate the
net. but the scheme did not prove a sue
cess, so the next year nothing but colored
men were employed, they doing the work
in the most satisfactory manner. Captain
Stewart said yesterday that it would be
impossible to run the fishery with white
men as they generally went to the Point
after the net was drawn ashore and got SC
drunk that they would be unfit for duty
when wanted. If the weather continues
favorable during next week everything
will be readiness by Saturday to commence
operations.