Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-11

RISe-ANoSe The JOLLY HERRING FISHERMEN
SUBJECTS FOR A NOVEL
Special Correspondent Of the The EVENING STAR.
Copyrighted, 1851
EAsTPoRT ME-, August 9. 1855.
This entire Maine coast Is grandly beautiful,
every mile, and Il has over 1000 miles OF coast
line In Its geographic 200 But TO me, this part OF
II. this farthest coast where a folk OF their own
KIND live, love and pass away, apparently uncon-
scious OF the great worlds activities: where there
are no towns Of consequence. and no resorts what
ever where nature is shamed by the displays and
rfvalries OF the rich and where IL seens at times
that shore and blent In illimitabie reaches OF
silence and grandeur, possess a rugged and
tremendous fascination OF which few own con-
sciousness or even hearsay knowledge. Travelling
perforce by sea In winter, along this farthest
Maine coast, mild and dreary shore-line will con-
stantly meet the eye For scores OF miles, not
hamlet. and scarcely a lonely habitation can be
discovered Here and there at long intervals
GHosTLY LIGHTHOUSE,
perched upon some drear, storm-beaten, sea-gr-
died rock or lonlier promontory, may be seen, but
these only suggest danger and intensity dreari-
mesa The havoc and terror In nature along these
shores almost reach malignity. Once driven In
behind the foam-tossed rocks for shelter, Quieter
waters might be found In eoyes backed by great
piers, or hamlets could anywhere be seem From
the sea all seems as IL the spirit OF desolaton had
power wild and distraught, for a winters fury,
and had challenged the sea 10 mortal combat
ocean and shore There IS scarcely cessation OF
battle. Mountainous waves, as II led by fierce
and pIunle-tossed hosts, charge and charge thun-
black-faced ledge and heauland, swathed In
ghostly fog and nayed by cutting winds; while
hoarSe mur1nurS or battle are grewsome, endless
undertone 10 the Sinking, sjOrm-beaten sea FOWL
uarting hither and thitner above, as II mad In
ricts.
But WHEN THE WINTERS RIGORs HAVE PASSED
and the fury OF the storm is spent, what magical
change has come. Murmurous sea pulses on well
coming shore. Savagery has given place TO gen.
TEST peace. Kelp and sea-urchins grow and nestle
at the foot OF every ledge InnumeraDle Islands.
oathed In bamy, sea-spent airs, bloom with shrub,
fern and flower. Countless coves rest between
island and crg, mirroring but radiant skies; inyt
Ing 10 most venturesOme guest ana safe for seal
lop, dory, slOOp or even canoe. In far hooks
behind emerald-crowned crags lovingly nestle
homes; and here and there, circlng landward In
shore and on outlying beaches, groups OF fishers
huts picturesquely touch the very waters edge:
Barefoot women and children are drying and
mendlng the seines; and a thousand browa weirS
line the shores like hosts OF russo spears, or as
one were come upon an endless reach OF reedy,
marshland sedye. steamer and sail and gentle
winds, everywhere At sea: beauty, interest and
delight, everywhere toward the mighty land Of
pines; and. for scores OF miles alonssh on our
own coast. and To away beyond where flies the
cross OF ST. George. for six month, CLINT OF fishers
sail. sound nSherS song. voice OF fishers Vile and
little ones, mingled with glad calls OF myriad
land ami water fowl housing IN the headland hooks
island crags; with sunny day S. starIit nights,
and the ceaseless whisperings OF favoring gales
and rythIns or the Joyous sea; blend and mlngle
into witchlng sound and scene-wnere the ner-
rns comes 10 spawn and feed, and host or souls
are made glad OF lie that any one who may, can
tarn It's kindly presence 10 goodly service and
account.
HABITS OF THE HERRING.
Waterside folk viii give you many q wise reason
why herring ilhabit these waters In greater
abundance than those OF any other known shores,
save OF the Norway, scottish and Yarmouth coasts.
So too, many curious superstition exists Ior the
occasional sudden disappearance anG reappear-
alce Of herring shoals But science, more accurate
less romantic than superstition, has found much
OF interest that herring fishers will ever know
Among this IL tells that the herring Is the most
prolific OF nsh, each "matie, or roe fish, annually
uepcSlting from 10000 u 30, O0C eggS; that while
these individual "Inaties" PROBABLY do not spawn
but once each year, spawn by herring shoals
and late fall: that herring shoals are OF
prCdigtOuS extent, often closely packed
Ike 1iock Of sheep for distances OF eight or nine
miles and oreaGtns OF Two to three, with an IN
known depth; that a Shoai OF i square mile, three
fathoms deep will contain 5OO000000 herrIngs;
that all the nshing In all the world could never
diminish their numbers; that their only enemies
worthy OF note are the guils, nn-wnaleS. dog-tsn,
gannets, porpoises, the fiat-nsn which feed upon
the newiy-depoSited spawn, and the ravenous cod.
In whose stomachs the herring Is found the whole
year through; and that they Will swarm at, and
despite all law ana superstition of fsheT-folk un-
less their food supply shall fail they are driven
lucll uOLuc-bTOUluS W TcpcalcU OQSlauGQtS
or their own voraciouS seafar!ng relatives.
FLOODS CT HERRING FOOD.
Therefore, and therefore only, the waters Of our
farthest northeast coast and the southwestern
shores OF New Brunswick annu lily swarm with
behring's, because the coves, estuaries bays and
entering streams provide the feeding and spawu-
Ing grounds these delicious fish desire, and they
never disappear save when natural conditions
WITHHOLD their iOOd, or the COO In great arInadls
sweep lack 10 the west from the banks and sci
upon them ravenously for their own food My
own study and observation lead me to the con-
clus!on, rather the thougn three facts may
well be regarded as having an important bearing
on the Irequenting OF this particular locality o.
the herring There Is similarity in the habit OF
the herring and shad IN ascending ocean arms
and oeean-emptyln< streams for spawn
In partially or wholly fresh water; and mere great
variety OF such haunIs are furnished The ire
mendouS arm Of la4d formed by Nova Scotia pro-
vides a protecting barrier between the HERR o
grounds OF these waters and the cod OF the banks
The great sweep or the GUT Stream, drbouched by
the solid wall Of our eastern shores Increasing in
power and velocity as IL Is hurled TO the east on
these shores (a.so largely accounting for the won
derful tide-height or the Bay or Fundy which re-
ceives portion VI this Unreasonable volume like
huge poke washes here migaty floods OF her
ring iood The latter consists OF minute cruSJacea
some similar 70 the shrimp and the prdwn, but
most are the same division the fresh-waI r
cyciops. Fishermen do not hlggle- hagyie over
these. But they know this food Is brought here IN
prodig Gus quantities. and leagues OF water upon
the Heterogeneous actually d.scolored with them
can De seen
AMONG OLD FISHERMEN.
and the noble Passamaquoddy Bay my good skip
per, chubby faced Capt Ballast took especial de-
light In introducing me To the temporary acoualn-
lance anu eternal friendship or scores OF cd fel-
lows who had weathered every gale on every
known coast, and had at last come back 10 their
early homes, N tliS region, Tor quiet snug-nar-
Dor Tor the waiting days before the iuaI cruise
uron the dark waters And what loyaole bray-
carts are Trey, every one. These InlroductioHs
were delightful studies in themselves
'Captlns TAiS or Ia4J'-fOr none Is less than
maSser bod With whom any other captain Will
hold conyerse-"tniS ERE ones my frieni Cast
your grappinS N make LAST This ere ones MOI
sea-iarIn, netner n upper, ZackIy; nor Yet dis
dlin- N nsOts better N u out-'n'-our tom-cod
luober.r
Never was this form changed But its to me-
DUBIOUS compliment To my wisdom and ex,
ptilence never Ialed OF proving open SESAME 10
their inner hearts and lives. No pen can fitIy de-
sefioe, give the true d tvor Of, their hide-oound
SCoRS or THE GENUINE LlSD-LUBBER
But the implication OF comparative worthiness
In the TACT that was not 'diSdainin or In other
WORKS never made the error OF falling 10 repose
apparent Implicit faith, In every yarn spun or bit
Oi Sea-lOre NOuchsaIed, made H. In their minds ar
least possible Tor me Ia some dim future time 10
partially comprehend Their iIImitable wlslom
And That Is the scie and only rugged royal road 10
their complete good WILL AppreuIlce yourself 10
mummy aad YOU may SIT in taeir shining councils
10 the ordinary onlOoker or cnance social or busl-
peSs acquaintance they are as silent and sod,Ien
permit you 10 Know tnem their garru BUSINESS ami
sunny ways are immeasuEable They live az
SampobellO, Grand Manan, MacliasDorI a few ar
PASSPORT, at sleepy old Pembroke al Whiting