Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-04

placed an inch or two apart. and are interviewer
With willow or alder: and the entire anair sets
type OF interrogation. The opening Is 50 placed
that portions OF the herring shoals moving dow n
ward with the tide, enter, and. once inside, they
weir nlndly seeking an exit only In the direction
OF the outgoing tide. This bind fatality OF the
herring Is so marked that fishermen assert
not one escapes where IL has entered
Taking herring In the weirs is easily accom-
plisbed One end OF O seine is fastened at the
Weir mouth; the other end dragged by ooatmen, Is
given half-sweep around the weir, preceded 10y a
small boat, in which are men beating the water
With paddles TO flock the fish until the seine Is
punched" when the herring are dipped into the
small boats with ordinary scoop-netS Two or
three sweepsbf the seine win take every herring
thus impounded. often the turn OF the tide
that there from 1000 TO 8, 200 OF these weirs
upon the herring grounds, some idea may be
GAINED Of The appearance Of the dark rims u
hare their countless torches.
acIrENESr or DRIVING.
But there is a genuine romance and excitement
about herring driving" II is done under fear OF
the mighty law, and cover OF pitch black nights
II the waters be sullen dark and STILL and dense
the hated officials in-dcors with their groC fortune
Is Kind Indeed 10 the herring Usher who may thus
turn an extra honest penny for the winter and
niue ones away from the OTTAWA money-oags and
tne bothersome surplus at Washington. Every
thing Is snug and shp-shape betimes, aitlng the
sht uOou-liue. Softly the nsnef ana crew OF three
Ia Their oilclothes and sou'westers, glide away
from shore with muffied oars into the Impenetra-
pie oarkness Every square rod OF water il as
familiar 10 these men the 'cuddy" OF their own
boat The mast is LETT behind. There two
oarsmen, one steersman and a clipper When
favorable "ground" has been reached there Is a
sudden nash In the boat In a moment a stronger
lslt appears forward, over the gunwale on the
port SIDE. There, In little wire-woven dragon or
cresset, STILES and flames a Quoddy torch. The
Suoddy indians, at Pleasant Point, on the ST
Srolx, have made IL OF birch bark. II is is inches
Will blaze for half an hour. The moment this is
aname the Quoddy boat fairly leaps upon the
WAFER The greater It's speed, the greater the luck
SUDDENLY THERE Is TRKNoR TINE WATER
Just ahead OF the naring torch. The clipper
stands with barred arms resolute as n for mighty
deed, grimly grasping the stout handle OF huge
scoop-net. The tremor upon the water increases 70
ripple, and the efforts OF the oarsmen are re-
doubled The ripple soon becomes spumy, seeth-
Ing volume, radiating and widening 10 away rear
ward, as II million tiny waves given animate
NE were oattling Tor precedence. suddenly there
Is .swashT and the clippers" net has descend
ed. IL brings back more than a bushel OF gleam-
Ing, squlrmlng, herring. As II for dear life the
clipper scoops and the oarsmen row. Tumbling,
splashing cayortlng, ana actually squeaking pro-
test as they are lung TO the boats bottom nsh
no diminutlon IN the myriad herring which madly
plunge ana leap 10 the fore, and tumble and
punch together underneath the fascination OF
the Quoddy torch. And not until the boat is i1led
Win this precious frultage OF the sea, and the
crew stand knee deep In the fnny treasure, Is
tnguished; and swallow or two OF rum Is taken,
ana land Is Marlly made through the neecy folds
OF the friendly log that has crept upon Quoddy
from the sea. EpGAR L. MAkEhAN