Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-28

TOfiers Of the Oar and Seine who Work
All Winter-Only One Shad Caught So
Far i'm the P0tOmac-The Prospect Of
the Season.

Yesterday STAR reporter took a survey OF
the river front to ascertain the situation of
anairs among the fishermen. A well known
and reliable old fisherman when asked what
were the prospects of the fishing season opening
early, said: "What is popularity known as the
nsh1ng season is in fact the season when shad
and herring are caught in the river. There is
no beginning nor ending to the fishing in the
Potomac river and its tributaries. Fishing is
carried on all the year round more or less. At
the present time there are OILERS at work down
stream; they are, however, doing but little
The winter fishing is hardly over yet. These
OILERS take their trappfngs and nets down to
the lower river in the fall season and when the
weather permits during open spells continue to
FISH all winter. The principal catch is perch
anu eatnsh, Which they send TO their heiI
The meshes of these gill nets are about the same
size as are used for shad and herring. The nets
are always floating with the tides they are of
shad nets. Of course enc none but the large size
perch and cat fish are caught, the small fish
passing through "a; them easily Mheneeera fish
by the movement of the seine cOrks which
float them, and the boatmen row to the spot,
draw up the net and capture the fish, These
boats are kept lively in making these captures,
and when these boats are filled the fish are at
bnets S TO fR ON passing s,ea
winter fishing. The past winter has been a
failure altogether in consequence of damage
out of upwards of one hundred gill METERS in
the lower river this past winter, more than one
the ice suddenly breaking up while frozen in
solid, and tearing the nets, which float away
and sink. All have lost more or less, and many
gether These outfits are quite expensive to
this poor class OF people, and it keeps them
cramped all the time They are, however, on
the spot and in time for the early shad and her
ring, and if they have good luck make money
fast In the season for this kind of fish
Year," asked the reporter
But one shad has been taken in the Potomac
river this year that have heard off,
"How is 1t that shad exposed for sale in
our markets.
"Oh," said the fisherman, "these shad are sent
here by railroad from the rivers and bays of
North Carolina and from the Savannah river,
Georgia. and the herring are sent in the same
way from Nova Scotia and the extreme eastern
rivers; they are not the Potomac herring"
This first and only shad caught in the Poto-
mac said the fisherman, "was sold for $3.50,
and Jim Regain bought it, think"
How about these gillers-do they remain
fishing in this way during the season for shad
and herring?' asked the reporter.
"4es, they keep right on, floating their nets
up and down the river nearly all the year
-, The seine haulers are separate class, are
Yes their work is different; theirs is much
greater outlay for fixtures, and their work is
but sometimes they do not do as well as the
OILERS when settlements are made, their ex-
penses being much greater"
Are the seine men getting ready to leave
for their shorese" asked the reporter.
"Some of them are nearly ready to start, but
they will not start until the weather be-
comes warmer. Others are already at their
shores, liking them up to he in working
order for the first catch. Very few have taken
down their working crews for hauling the
seine. There is much to be done yet before
they will be in readiness"
mo one can tell, said the fisherman. 'sSolne
OF the boys express the belief that it is going to
be a successful season. there have been 80
many years of failure, but no one can tell until
the time comes" ..>~ --t-- So