Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-06-12
CAPE HAT1HRAs,

II @uu Outt0tmb Oh the FeOpi0--8Ome-
thing ADout the Porpoise FISHERY.
The following article, taken from the
New York "Times" Of last Sunday, will
no doubt prove interesting, especially
Eto those why are interested In the VIII
tmington on and Leather Company /,
which 10 now operating D factory for the
tdeselopments Of the products Of the
fporpoise:
10 any one wishing 70 fiee from the
lworriinents OF city life, journey to
lCape Hatteras may be recommended.
TelegrAphic communication IL indefi
Initely suspended, owing to o break in
the wire at Oregon Inlet, and the lack
iof an appropriation to repair the same.
IThe majority OF strangers who land on
datterns Reef DO osounwillingly through
shipwreck. The beach below the light
ts strewn with wreckage Of all descrip-
tions, from nearly entire hull OF yes
j eel to barrels. cables and cocoanuts.
From the mainland the reef can be
reschod only by embarking on one Of
the little fshs boats running from Eiizn-
beth City, or New -Berns. ltisatwelvs
hours sail under the most favorable cir.
,lcumstances, but the trip generally takes
] an entire day ard night. A boatman
tI IunacQuainted with shoals would make
cad work Of journey ACROSS the sound /,
+, but the native fishermen wind about
!, through the tortuous channels withoui
lever once RrAzing the bottom.
ri HAtteras Reef Is far from being q
4 hare sand beach. All about the light
! house and south Of it stretches 9
4 dwarfed forest of live oak and holly
! trees, broken by fresh-water ponds fra
|. Igrant with water lilies. The woods and
]: marshes are enlivened by the songs OF
tnnumerable mocking birds and black
n birds, but the enjoymen OF wandering
= about 10 somew marred By the ares-
= ence OF fattlesnakes and copperh sds.
4 In these woods is the village of TNbrt,
!. the home Of the fishermen. The houses
4 tare scattered along the sandy roads,
which wind hither and thither through
1.-The woods. A square OF sand, inclcsed
-lby . rough, lew fence and furnished
9 with n well and q few rose bushes
. which seem to find life very hard
forms the front yard. The back yard
y 10 generally occupied by ''gardeI
70 sass" upon the growth Of which much
lpAins are bestowed. These kitchen
?, gardens Jared badly this year. A higf
= tide, which occurred recently, flooded 5
y great many of the m and ruined them.
kt The "natives" are honest, kindly
sIutuROnpAp AotkooAtf 8l4
when asked how people managed Il
', live on no barren spot, one OF the fish
IN ermen replied that they throve By
3 fleeing strangers, and that when ther'
10 were no strangers they turned TO heec.
ling one another. There is no court, nj
aaJ jail, no physician, and no regular min
,e lister Of the Gospel on the reef. Grim
n. IL unknown and liquor Is prohibited
Some of the fishermen, however, Ar
4, wont 70 make merry when they 60 +
Elizabeth Oity, but this aside, the MOI
ais OF the HatterAs people are quit
tunimpeachable. Many Of the men be
10 long 70 sort Of religio- social club, an
ey are known as bright Jewels" II
visit 10 made out Of the fishing seaso
in one may find reason to complain Of th
z. dishes served up at dinner. On sey
erAl consecutive days q visitors Dime
st consisted OF hot biscuit, boiled cabbaR
and honey. Il is not improved By th
addition OF the famous or infAmor
.lyaupon or "black drink" of the Carol
ne mas, which il q common beverage her
Every house holder makes his Ow
ysupon tea. A large hole is dug In Il
sand, into which 10 thrown q layer
'x- twigs Of the yaupon bush. Next com
ia Ia layer OF hot stones, then more va
h. Ipon twigs and more stones, ard 80 {
rs, until the hole is filed. The hal
N, chArred leaves and stems are final
ty taken out and placed in barrels, al
ne, the tea 10 ready for use.
I'd, The most considerable event whit
les has taken place at Hatteras for lol
the time has been the establishment Of
lin porpoise factory by some Wilmingt
'ck capitalists. As 3 regularly organic
nR- industry the business is new to {
lei. county. The fishermen have oaug
'ay more or less porpoises every winter, b
tito have never done more than TO fry G
rg. from their blubber small quantity
and oil. The new company, however, ,
at purchased special machinery and /
lported skilled workmen from Euro
ped and proposes to make leather, oil a
The fertilizers. No leather has been p!Ac
/ US ON the market thus far. That fr'
% 6lyoung individuals has curious "pil
thei like velvet and Is very beautiful
ain may perhaps be used In upholsterin2
ous lplaoe Of plush, than which 1t would
and far more durable. The porpoises app
) toI of the beach nearly every day, and
vere fishery is prosecuted daily unless
ylen sea Is running too high. Only
In strongest nets will hold porpoises, q
The when frightened they will dart abb
md, with inconceivable rapidity and str
nree against the nets with great force.
mol They are first impounded In o "
tory largo net and afterward brought to
ond beach by q sweep seine made OF
/; itl stron aest twine. 1t is strange 0
lexci.ing scene when go or 80 OF th
lists powerful creatures, each eight or n
tful feet long. are being pulled in tow
milo the beach. They struggle desperat
his and make q continual piping so'
,ted like sthe quealiDg ofrats. Many beck
fater entanele In the net and are drown
WAS but tho majority have TO be killed q
rand they are drawn out of the water.
lall, Though the fishermen persist In cal
were them iish they are. OF course, true m
npA- giving mammalia. The milk tA
kins. unpaiatahls, but very rich and witt
lized flavor like ooooanut milk.
the Although the Winter has been '
ex- tunfavorable large number OF por
y TO ses have been taken. The season ID
pany lust closed. The fishermen stay In
Hen. camp on the beach every day I
men dawn until sunset. whether any "n
elves appear or not. They are warned OF
en- approach by spies stationed half
knofth and south Of the camp. The
lirec. say shat the fishery is mo fun" WI
West means that 1t Ia exceedingly lab0ri
enial In this connection 1t may be ~
who that the company have captured
three thousand porpoises during
xcit- season, and that the 6rst leather wi
miles placed upon the market In short
lie alNext seaaon, machinery will be 81
and to the factory for producing fertilil
,lease and the prospects OF the company
lnded livery hatterinR.