The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-08-08
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The native American goes no longer
TO the fishing banks, preferring to
remain at home, fit out, handle the pro-
ducts, and transact other necessary
business of the city. His place is nov
supplied by men Of the provinces and
by waits and strays from all nations.
There is quite o colony of Portuguese
from the western islands, who occupy
quarter by themseles, and are worthy
and industrious citizens. There are
Irish. Swedes, Norwegians and Danes,
but exceeding all others the Bluenoses
from the maritime provinces of the
Dominion. These men are born fisher.
men, reared to that occupation in lack
of any other. Naturally shrewd, the
swiftly-lauhched, well-appointed vessels
of Yankee shippers, and their improved
methods of fishing, early attracted their
attention and led to their shipping on
them when opportunity occurred.
There has been for years steady stream
of these hardy fellows flowing into the
port. They make excellent fishermen,
marry there, settle down, and add much
to the towns prosperity. There are
others again, to whom more Of romance
nttaches-men of birth and education
from England and the Continent
whom youthful errors or wrongs have
driven into exile; others seemed to have
adopted the business because of its
danger and adventure A volume might
be made of these tales told in town of
men of this character who are now or
have been, forecasltlemen on the cod and
mackerel catches. Like sailors, the
Cape Ann fishermen are quite super
stitious. One finds the study of this
trait quite interesting The supersti-
ton against beginning trip on Friday
is strong with them. When vessel
sails near enough to Halfway rock on
the bank voyage the crew are apt to
pitch coppers and nickles upon it g to
bring them good luck" They believe
that If sea-bird alights on vessel
blown out to sea it is bad omen if a
bee or land-bird,, good one; and
some have been known, from such
mishap, to put back to port and change
the trip. The more ignorant believe in
witches and the numerous spirits of
food and fell. The locality of Captain
Kidd's treasures is often under discus
sion In the forecastles. But their most
singular and widespread belief is in
ssJonahs." These may be animate or
inanimate. men or things; but that
some are unfortunate, while others
bring good luck, is the firm belief of the
true fisherman, and he has an array If
facts to fortify his belief. He will tell
you of certain builder that has turned
off twenty schooners from his stocks,
and not one of them has cleared their
owners a penny. BIO will instance
another vessel that in five annual trips
brought in five of the largest fares
known to the port, and that never misses
a full fare. He will point to one man
an able seaman, an expert fisher-who
always brings bad luck to the crew he
ships with. while the same crew, on get
ting rid of him, finds its former good
fortune return. Avalise, violin, checker.
board, toy boat, bucket on deck half
full of water, dropping hatch into the
mold, breaking looking-glass, drying
sails on Sunday, are all "Jonahs
There are few fishermen who will not
whistle for breeze when it is calm, or
stick knife in the afterside of the
mainmast to bring fair wind, and it is
well-known fact that if hook is stuck
in the hand, thrusting it Immediately
into piece of pine will prevent sore
ness of the wound. But it is in the
matter of dreams and premonitions that
the. fishermans superstition finds
readiest channels. Columns might be
filed with the dreams that have come
true to the knowledge of the old skip
pers who abound in the port.