The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-05
MEN or THE PUNCHES.
The Hardships of Those Who Bring the
Toothsome Oyster from Els Bed.


Baltimore Sun.
Each rungy engaged in dredging for oysters is
provided with two dredgeS. They are iron in
struments, with q chain netting made in the
form of a pocket. The mouths of these pockets
are provided with teeth for scPaping up the
oysters. The dredges have ropes attached to
them, which are fastened to iron winders placed
amidships on botn the port and starboard sides
of the vessel. These winders are iron and pro-
vided with cranks. They are securely fastened
to the decks. The dredger loves a stiff breeze.
He cannot work to advantage without it. and if
it blows a half gale ne likes it the better. When
the boat reaches the place where it is proposed
to work. the two dredges are thrown overheard
vessel. Each dredge will hold two and
a half bushels of oysters, but they are
rarely drawn up full, excepton an especially fine
bed. The speed desired by the dredger is two
miles an hour. The sails are therefore trimmed
TO keep this speed. Four men are required at
each winder. When the dredge is supposed to
have oysters in it four men seize the two iron
cranks of the winder and begin the laborious
task OF winding the rope around the cylinder
until the dredgeis drawn up. It hard work. l
tell you, and often very cold. Sometimes the
crank may feel like fire and take the skin off the
hands. Every drop of water which strikes the
decks and clothing of the men may be freezing.
but they have got to work all the same. Oysters
sell better In cold weather, and that is the time
to catch them. The captain takes part with his
men. His place is at the tiller to steer and
have general direction Of the boat. Woe to
the men at the eranks when the ropes slip or
the dredges strike a snag on the bottom. The
cranks are snatched from the men and fly around
with lightning speed, often resulting in broken
arms, legs and lacerated bodies. ] once saw a
crank knock the top of a mans head off as clean
as it could have been cut off with a saw. Acct
dents from the crank are frequent. There is not
a day passes but some poor fellow on the oyster
grounds receives a wound from it.
The dredge boats go out from the harbors,
where they spend the nights at very early hour
IN the morning, and work as long as they can see
IN the evening. They stop for no weather, ex
cept a heavy gale or furious snow-storm. They
will often work in a young hurricane under a
WlndTard shore, when they can only carry a lit
tie piece OF mainsail and jih The men are COM
PEELED to be on deck in all kinds of weather and
work like beavers. They get soaked with rain
and have their clothes freeze on them They
sometimes have their ears, noses, hands
and feet nearly eaten off by the frost, and
have to put up with uncomfortable sleep
ing quarters at night. AS many of them
have not got a change of clothing, they
lie down in their frozen garments at night and
thaw out. So this process of freezing during
the day and thawing at night goes ON, and it is
no wonder that many of them die of pneumonia
and other maladieS incident to so rough q life.
It too often happens that when a man gets sick
he is put ashore at some point by his captain,
without money, and left to shift for himself as
best he can. But ON the other hand some of
these fellows VINO come to the city with sucn
tales are deserters from their vessels. The only
time that dredgers have a picnic is during the
prevalence of a storm SO violent that the boats
are compelled to lay in harbor. The men then
lay about the cabin and forecastle smoking,
sleeping and drinking, if they can get the liquor.
The food on the dredge-boats is coarse, but sub
~stantialL They have coffee, corned-beef, pork,
bread and cabbage. They also have soup.
The pay of a hand on these vessels is about
$18 to $40 per month. Some few experienced
2rn1rinD ho-Ic Mill oa% oo k,rh rc 9QA aud On,
per month. Sometimes the crew agree to work
on shares, and divide the proceeds of the vessel
load of oysters among themselves as stipulated
in their agreement.