The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-09-07
sUPERsTITIONs OF FISHERMEN.
Next Sunday will be wet day"
e. ITntu can r-n,r al 80

Next Sunday viii be q wet day.
How can you tell;'
''Wet Friday, wet Sunday" replied an
old fisherman who was smoking a Teil
colored meerschaum pipe. and discussing
a cup Of strong, black coffee in an eating
saloon in New York. I've grown ola
in the business and as long as can re-
member I've never seen wet Friday that
was not followed by a weU Sunday"
Don't you think it supeTstitious not to
20 fishing on Friday? Why should YOU
You select that as beioGau UnlUcky days''
'No, don't. just as long as fish have
lived in the water and men have taken
them out, Friday has been an unlucky
day for our trade"
''Why is it that you never allow whist
ling on board a fishing boat?"
Because, me boy, it's calling on Old
Nick to make his appearance and he al
ways brings wind with him"
Fishermen don't like TO begin any
undertaking on Monday. What IS the
reason OF that supe-stiticn'"
The meaning Of it i, bad Monday, bad
week"
Now, If one of you- sbiprates should
smash a looking glass On board ship, YOU
would give up al hope Of getting good
haul"
Yes. sir: Irevor saw it faG yet, and 7
have seen good many broken IN my time,
and just as sire as IL occurred n gale
came on and blew great Guns, and we
were compelled 10 run for shelter If
that failed, then we caught no fish. "
How is it that you are 50 certain os
your storm predictiou?'
Year In aud year out W sfuay the
signs OF the heavens. Certain stars,
bright or dGil. IHeen certain things Tho
wind FROM given certain quarter IN q
certain month IS almost sara 10 bring
stormy, fair. dry or wet wcalher, IS the
case may be. The moon gives as q good
deal OF Information; # Sic ia on ner back
then lock ont Tor a storm; II Lcr horns arc
well pointed then yOU may expect cool
or cold weather, according 10 the season
of the year. iftEere IS "a large h.izy circle
around the moon, then yoa may laol. out
for u good rairstorm or a steady rainfall.
Then the Big and Little Bears give US
some useful knowledge according to the
different positions they assume"
When going ona fishing trip-I mean,
of course, deep sea fsh.ng-holy IL itthat.
You can tell exactly where to set Your
net or TO cast yCar iincss"
That's as easy rs smoking Your ripe.
NOu sec Il rock or q bank is situated sx-
actly by be compass in n certain bearing
of locality. Well, wecan tell -st as well
without compass, and il is very simple
Suppose the fishing ground is ten. twenty
or thirty miles from the land We sail in
the direction Of ii until we get two head
lands in one as IL were. Then we can
tell to a dot how far We are ont. and con
sequently we know where the fishing ba1I-
is, but we sail on until Oac Of the head
lands or banks IS visible; that gives us
so many miles, just exactly Is il you
measured IL with a tape, 50 that we know
where we are. A high church stecple, a.
lighthouse or q land bluI, all tend to
show the eye Of the fisherman where no
is"
''There is 10 emergency that would
compel a fisherman TO make any repair,.
on Sunday either in the sail department,
rigging or hull of the vessel.''
Experience has Taught us that Sunda,-
must be kent" returned the weather
beaten old salt.