The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-20
THE iISnERMAN'S SIGNS.
HE STOUTLY DENIES THAT He
IS AT ALL SUPERSTiTlOUS.
nut He Believes That Wet sunday Al
ways Follows II Wet Friday-Bad Lack
To Break Looking Giass-0. her Mys-

ways Follows Wet Friday-Bad Lack
To Break IA Looking Giass-O her Mys-
teries.
Next Sunday will be wet"
How can you tellf'
Wet Friday wet Sunday, replied an old
fisherman who was smoking a well colored
meerschaum pipe and discussing q cup of
strong, black coffee { an eating saloon. lie
vas typical fisherman. He had large,
Gear blue eyes, bushy bead OF hair, and a
hand "a hard as a marlinspike. He stoutly
denied that sailors were superstitious, and
maintained tuat their reasonings were
founded on fact and not fiction. No book
for him. la spite of his denial, however, fish
ermen are probably the most superstitious
class Of people on earth.
just tell me something about a iisherman's
life and his superstition, asked the reporter
OF the veteran.
FISHERMEN don't have any supelstltions,
sir, and if they have they are far below those
that you land lubbers are prey tos'
you just now mentioned one; wet Friday,
wet Sunday
That's 10 superstition; that's "A fact and
one You can't alter I've grosn old in the
business, and as long "a can remember I've
never seen wet Friday t.at was not fol-
lowed by a wet Sunday"
Az CNLUCKY DAY.
"Don't you think il superstitions not to 60
fishing on Friday Why should you select
that as being an unlucky day"
No, | don't. Just 50 long as fish have
.
out Friday has been an unlucky day for
our trade You jus. try 1t and you'll find
that I'm right"
Why is it that you never allow whistlins
on board n fishing boatf'
Because, me boy, its calling on old Nick
TO make his appearance, and he always brings
winl with him"
FISHERMEN don't like to begin any under
taking on Monday What's the reason of
that supcrstitioDT
II told YOU miaute ago that 1t was not
superstition The meaning Of it is bad Mon
day, bad week"
Now, if one Of your shipmates should
smash looking glass on board ship you gisc
up Mi hope Of getting good haul.
YES. SIR: never saw it fail yet, and
IlNt Sf-ftl etf'Ht MANY btbhti III ttttt's
and lust rs sure rs it occurred a gale came IN
aud blew great guns, and we were compelled
to run FOR shelter If that failed, then W.
caught 10 fish. I've known men that had TO
20 out Of tie business because they were
always smashing things, and no one would
sail with them. | dare say You would laugh
at rae If told you that | gotta good drubbing
from skipper under whom ! once sailed he
cause | showed the CORY OFF from the side OF
the ship with her head pointing To the sun
What did that signify
1T means simply detying the clements
and whenever you do that take nay word
that nothing good comes from 1t"
How is it that you are SO certain Of your
storm prediction"
SIGNS or THE HEAVENS
son, that is simple. Year in and year out
we study tine signs of the heavens which are
very accurate Certain stars, bright or
dull, mean certain things The wind from
a given certain quarter IN a certain month
is almost sure TO bring stormy, fair dry or
wet weather as the case may be. The moon
gives lis Il good deal Of Information; if she is
"a her back, tbcn look out for q storm; il
her horns are well pointed then you may OK
pect cool or cold weather, according 10 the
season Of the year If there is a large, hay
circle around the moon, then you may look
out for 4 good rain storm or 4 steady rain
fall. Then the big and little bears give US
some useful knowledge, according to the dit
ferent positions thcy assume"
When going on q fishing trip mean, Of
course, deep sea Gshing-how IS 1t that you
- ltr.Zf
Jour lines"
THAT'S as easy as smoking your pipe. You
see, rock or bank is situated exactly by
the compass in certain bearing or locality
Well we can tell just as well without a com
pass and IL Is very simple. Suppose the
fishing ground Is ten, twenty or thirty miles
from the land We sail IN the direction Of
it until We get two headlands in one as II
were Then We can tell 10 a dot no" far We
are out, and consequently we kno" where
the fishing bank is, but we sail on until one
OF the beadlands or banks Is visible, that
gives US So many miles, just as exactly as II
you measured it with a tape, so that We know
where we are. A high church steeple,
lighthouse or a land bluff all tend to show the
accustomed eye of a fisherman where lie Is.
Then it isn't true that you can tell by the
waters"
In some cases we can, but as a general
rule our land bearings are the most reliable
There is no emergency that would compel
a fisherman to make any repairs oil Sunday,
either i'll the sail department, rigging or hun
Of the vessel
Experience has taught US that Sundays
must be kept. Ii you drive nail in the
piece of the wood of your vessel on Sunday
| look out. for that is what we call mailing the
| trip. Should you mend your sails, the first
wind rips them again, and if youtix or mend
your rigging it will come down about your
head OF ears the moment you 90 out. have
| myself had needles break in my hand when
attempted to sew on Sunday That was when
l was youngster, and thought it would be a
| big thing to defy the rules. Lewiston
| Journal
Burning Bricks in a Kiln.