The Penn's Grove record., 1888-05-05
SHADOWS.

Hope Creek, April S0tiI.
Mr.. EDITOR:-Ihinking a few items
from the headquarters of the BAY slldui
fishing industry may be oi interest 10
your readers | will eDdeavur to give II
lew interesting facts.
There are here - nets at IA c,st of
500 each, 81, 800; about 90 cabins worth
$50 each, S1,SO0; making the total cost
invested in the sliad fishing industry
at this place S22, AS. Number of
men employed, 300; average catch of
sllad to each net during the seasO B.
900; making a total of 221,00O sliad.
Average amount ciIshed by each net
$500, making Il total OF SIS, 800. All
can see by these figures that the slIad
fishing business here is an important
one. Some of the best nets have up tO
The present date cashed from 500 to
$500, while some of the 1.-TWO handed
nets have done very poor on the ac-
count of the cold and rough weather.
The fishermen here are IA jolly, reck-
less, independent class OF men, but
quick and impulsise. This was exeni-
plit1ed t; few days since. Two nets got
too close out in the bay and the result
was when the men came ashore, that
they were loaded to the muzzle with
dynamite and the volleys they pound
ed into II another was enough to
make ones flesh crack. After keeping
up the fusilade sometime and exhaust
ing their vocabulary Of choice Ian
guage and pet names, they buried the
llatcliet and "a love feast followed.
This shows their impulsive and Tor
giving disposition which seems To be
governed somewhat by the elements
around us. Some days the storm RACES
the wind howls and our frail crafts are,
tossed about like all egg shell on the
pillows; while other days II is calm and
serene. So it is with the tisherman's
inner spirits. Some days he feels like
a raging cyclone, while at other times
lie feels like the gentle south winds.
A tislierman's life, at the best is Il
rough one. The dangers and hard.
ships to which he Is exposed are many.
If any think shad fishing in the Bay a
picnic | would advise them to try it
one spring. | think they would have
IA different opinion after giving it u fair
trial.
Today is the Sabbath aud u beauti-
full day it is. A general quiet prevades
in each cabin dotted along IN each
side of the creek about 200 yards fIom
its mouth, yet there is nc religious SER
vice conducted here NJ the marsh OH
the Sabbath day as there use to he in
in former years. There is not that OBJ
seryance of the Sabbath there should.
Many fishermen overhaul and mend
net nearly all sunday, while many 9TH
ers have gone home to their families.
Last night some of the ''boys"
thought that they would get ready for
May night. A little previous, it Is true
but they thought Saturday night Il bet
ter time to celebrate than on Tuesday
rs they could encroach some oil the Sab
bath and not have to fish. There
we've kegs of beer and bottles Of wills
key. This tells what was to follow.
About IL O'Clock | was aroused by loud
baccllanalian songs, which these lovers
of the snake eye and beer bottles were
singing. Then followed recitations
from authors whose abode must be in
the internal regions below, as their ST.
lections could never have been pro-
duced by any being on this terrestrial
ball. Finally the beer and whisky
were consumed and the jewellers ceas-
I'd ~ make the night hideous with their
noises. | have been told you can't
lind a fisherman who doesn't drink
rum, but | am Happy to say there is II
number at Hope Greek who do not
touch it. OBSERVER.