The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-07-07
NOT SUPERSTITIOUS.
Lewiston Journal.


 "Wet Friday, wet Sunday" replied an old fisherman who was smoking well-colored meerschaum pipe, and discussing cup of strong, black coffee in an eating saloon. He was typical fisherman. He had large, clear blue eyes, 8 bushy head of hair, and hand as hard as marlinspike. He stoutly denied that fishermen were supersti- tious and maintained that their reas- onings were founded on fact and not fiction. No book for him. In spite of his denial, however, fishermen are probably the most superstitious class of people on earth.
 "Just tell me something about 8 fisherman's life and his superstitions," asked the reporter of the veteran.
 "Fishermen don't have any super stitions, sir, and if they have they are far below those that you land lubbers are prey to-"
 "You just now mentioned one: wet Friday, wet Sunday"
 "That's no superstition that's 8 fact, and one you can't alter. Pve grown old in the business, and ss long as can remember I've never seen 8 wet Friday that was not followed by a wet Sunday"
 "Don't you think it superstitious not to go fishing on Friday? Why should you select that as being an unlucky day?"
 "No, I don't. Just so long as fish have lived in the water and men have taken them out, Friday has been an unlucky day for our trade. You just try it, and you'll find that Pm right"
 "Why is it that you never allow whistling on board fishing boat?"
 "Because, me boy, it's calling on Old Nick to make his appearance, and he always brings wind with him."
 "Fishermen don't like to begin any undertaking on Monday. What is the reason of that superstition?"
 "I told you minute ago that it was not superstition. The meaning of it is, bad Monday, bad week."
 "Now, if one of your shipmates should smash looking glass on board ship, you give up all hope of getting 8 good haul"
 "Yes, sir; never saw it fail yet, and I have seen good many broken in my time, and just as sure as 1t oc- cured gale came on and blew great guns, and we were compelled to run for shelter. If that failed, then we caught no fish. Pve known men that have had to go out of the business be- cause they were always smashing things, and no one would sail with them. dare say you would laugh at me if told you that I got good drubbing from skipper under whom once sailed because l showed the dory off from the side of the ship with her head pointing to the sum-"
 "What did that signify?"
 "It means simply defying the ele- ments, and whenever you do that, take my word that nothing good comes from it."
 "How is it that you are 90 certain of your storm prediction2"
 "Oh, that is simple. Year in and year out we study the signs of the heavens, which are very accurate. Certain stars, bright or dull, mean certain things. The wind from given certain quarter in certain month is almost sure to bring stormy, fair, dry or wet weather, as the case may be- The moon gives us good deal of in- formation; If she Is on her back, then look out for storm if her horns are well pointed, then you may expec, cool or cold weather, according to the season of the year. If there is large hazy circle around the moon, then you may look out for good rain storm or steady rainfall. Then the Big and Little Bears give us some useful knowl- edge, according to the different posi- tions they assume"
 "When going on 8 fishing trip mean, of course, deep fishing-how ii it that you can tell exactly where te set your net or cast your lines?"
 "Thats as easy as smoking your pipe. You see 8 rock or bank il situated exactly by the compass in { certain bearing or locality. We'll, ", can tell just as. we'll without a com. pass, and 1t Is very simple. Suppos, the fishing ground is ten, twenty ol thirty miles from the land. We sai in the direction of 1t until we get twt headlands in one, as it were. Then W, can tell to dot how far we are out and consequently we know where thu fishing bank is, but we sail on unti only one of the headlands or banks Ii visible; that gives us 90 many miles just exactly as if you measured i with a tape, 90 that we know wher, we are. A high church. -steepley lighthouse or . land bluff, all tend tt show the accustomed eye of . fisher. man where he is." =. ;