Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-25
CITY AND DISTRICT.
POTOMAC FISHING.
Preparations Being Made for the Open.
ing of the season.


SHORES THAT WILL BE PIsHEp THIS YEAR-ExCrssrvR
GEOS-DELIcATE sHAD AND HzRKING-LoSG-LIvED
cGrFIsB-TALK WITH AN OLD FISHERMAN.
Asusual. when the season for fsning is near at
hand. there is considerable activity at the fishing
shores along the Potomac These shores. how
ever, are rapidly decreasing in number, aud where
Ten years ago there were twenty now bnt four or
I've can b. found. The majority OF them have
become improbable and have been abandoned
The first shore on the Maryland side 70 be opera
ted this year Is at old Fort Washington This will
be nshed BY the United states Fish Commission
Tor scientific purposes only, ana only a small net
will BE- used. The second fishery on the same side
Is Monkeys Point. This shore Will be operated oy
VIM Faunce Co. who use 800 fathoms OF seine
and employ about 20 men. Then comes the Ia
nous Cbapman's Point, operated this year by VIM.
Gale, with 800 fathoms OF seine and force OF
These are all the important shores 90 be fshed on
the Maryland side, although there viii be numer-
Gus small operators at all available points on both
sides
on TIE VIRGINIA SIDE
the FIRST shore 10 be hsned Is Ferry Landing once
noted fishery, operated this year by VIM Netzey,
with 1000 fathOms OF seine and a force OF fifty
men. This fishery also employs two engines to
haul the seine.
.Un both sides OF the river" said a well-known
Potomac fisherman 10 a STAR reporter "many
shores have been abandoned. which. In INV opiIl-
Ion, Is wholly due to the excessive flshlng below
the Potomac, on the Chesapeake Bay, both In and
out OF season"
''what are the laws governing nshing?' asked
''The only one know Of" said the fisherman.
''is that you cant oner any shad or herring for
slow did the annual catch OF last season COM
pare with that OF the previous season." asked the
EWel, sir" he continued. Il think there was an
Walking along the shore The STAR man found
another old fisherman mending his nets In an old
she'd near the Long Bridge, and taking seat on
huge ball OF twfne near by entered into converse
ton with him.
Eyes SIR" said the fisherman. "tne season is close
OF hand say It's close at hand. because Just "a
soon as the ice breaks up in the river and navl-
CATION commences we commence to stir ourselves
10 snip-shape order, and by the time we have
everything ready for use, why the nsh are around
and the season Is open"
THE BUSINESS.
SLOW do you Ike the fish busincsse- oueried THE
STAR man.
"Wall say, pard,- answered the Old fisherman.
give followed II sence war able TO haul rope
and that stnder looks like warnt dead agin t. don
three year ago." he continued "and have worked
steady at IL ever sence. Its a kinder interesting
business you know, especially the sturgeon fish,
Ing. 0i co9rse you Know now TO catch sturgeon
In giller, don't your
Upon being informed that THE STAR man was
nOt well FIJI up IA the art the OLD man continued II
aside a net that was fast approaching completion
under his skilled fingers, he continued
'-rHE FIRST THING YoU DO
isto get big giier chats a gill net> with large
nieshes, and, tying the top nm OF the net in sew
eral places 10 large floats or supports. you throw
IL overheard. Then you foller the net In a boat
y drifts with the current until you see
suss as soon as Sy you l PS''01 That Vi you on
feel nervous like, cause you know you've got
stuggeon and II he's any size AT ali ne II make you
n n n IA Dtra N
the point you saw IL CULVER you slowly draw IL 10,
unit you ken see him. ana then hook him with
.'<aller' CrhatS HOOK with ~ crook end, said he
by way OF explanation.
THE Fun TEEN COMMENCES.
lie lasheS the water into a foam with his tail,
and when you draw him in. II you amt careful he'll
Knock you overheard. Many time, he continued,
I've had 70 swim on account OF en-"
asked the reporter.
well, Orter; thars more money in it for us:
IN that kind OF nshlng. too AIS expectation and
.ften we gamble on the number we are going 10
catch sometimes, though, a sturgeon gets into
The net, and that makes IL still mere interesting"
FISHING FOR suAD
"How DO you FISH for shad?" asked the reporter
"Why, thAr's several ways answered the fisner-
man. some Is the trap seine. That consists OF
river. In a kind OF circle. and having a Kind OF
Iail extending therefrom. The circular part has
cOne-like opening, and the fish, striking against
The opening, which they enter, and hardly ever
md their way out boat goes out To empty the
seine at the standstill OF every tide.
ANOTHER WAY.
sThen agin there's the haul-selne which is secured
II one end and taken out In a boat and dropped
overheard the other end being secured In the boat
and round ashore. A force OF men or a windlass
worked by horse power. anc sometimes steam. haul
ir IN The shad Is very delicate fish, you know
and 80 Is the herring, for that matter-and both
have 70 be shipped Immediately, Us they spon very
eOon.
SLOW about CATFISH" queried the reporter. "Do
Shey die soon?D
NO. sir: they are hangers on, sure, living some
times FOR days out OF water. i remember one case
whar mess OF .katies lived for ten days out OF
water and that war down here at Bill Jones' Pint
we had mace big ketch OF EN-, and had 'em piled
upon the shore. Wall SIR they laid thar for upward
az two weeks in the brtling sun, when a schooner
came long and bought the lot. as / thought,
for fertilizer. But, no. Them feliers were sharp
'vns. They threw the top ones away, when darn
my button4 II thar warnt catfish underneath lest
as live as when put thar couldn't believe it, but
thar they were, Kept fresh and alive, suppose by
the moisture
"What are the prospects for a successful catch
this year, asked the reporter.
"PearS 10 me-" he replied. shat Wen have n
good year, although It's most too early tell Jest
yet
CONGREGATIONAL NECKWEAR.