Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-09-05
MOSS SINGING"
ONE QUEER AND SOMEWHAT
ROUGH SEASIDE INDUSTRY.
Massachusetts Fishermen Who
Have Quilted Fishing for Mack
erel, &c.

CACA5 w.
"AIoss singing" is all the rage along
the south shore of Massachusetts Bay
this summer. 1t is the only industry
that paws, simmer hotels excepted, and
rs the facilities for running hotels are
limited, the great majority of the fish
ermen have become moss singers.
Fishing is one Of the lost arts, Holsters
are scarce, and the worthy shippers are
obliged to grub long and patiently be-
fore thew can turn an honest dollar. A
moss singers outfit is as simple and in
expensive as that of the fisherman, but
of the two occupations few would choose
the former if there was any prospect OF
luck with the hook and line. 1t is a
matter of necessity rather than of choice
that drives many of the Massachusetts
moss men into that industry. A few
years ago Massachusetts Bay was alive
with mackerel. This year there are none
TO be found. The men, who would
otherwise be iigging for the gamy tish
or corralling them in seines, are raking
down the sides OF lodges and supplying
the market with carrageen, or irish
moss, as it is better known to the pub
lie. The reefs and scattered lodges that
line the south coast from Minot's Ledge
TO Plymouth Rock are covered with this
species of seawecd, which is called moss.
1t is not n moss, aud it bears no relation
TO the Iceland moss, so-called. 1t grows
below low. water mark, and must be
raked into boats 1t is not altogether a
pleasant occupation. Maud Muller
would have entered dainty protest If
she had been obliged to spend sum
mer's day welding moss rake. There
is nothing romantic about the. business.
The man who goes messing must make
up his mind to work hard for whatever
money he makes out of it.
The moss singers kit of tools com
prises dory, wide and strong, and a
long handled iron rake. The teeth are
fully six inches long, and set close to-
gether, and the handle is at least twenty
feet long. This is all the native mosser
carries with him in the line OF extra
equipment He wears the oldest clothes
he possesses. The amateur provides
himself with his rubber boots and oil
skin clothing, but they quickly yield to
the wear and tear OF the work. Then
he gets wet inst MS the veteran does.
Scituate is the headquarters for moss
singers Of Massachusetts Bay, and
quite colony OF them are found there
every summer. Their manner OF living
is as primitive rs was that OF the
"49ers." A simple hut suffices for par
lor. kitchen, bedroom and storehouse.
There is but ono room as a rule. Wis tors
ars not always welcome, for there is no
room in which to put them. Cooking,
eating and sleeping are conducted UNI
der moro or less difficulty, and without
home comforts and convenienccs. A
stove is the largest piece OF furniture,
and the chairs are in proportion To the
number Of persons who require them.
The beds are temporary structures. As
soon as there is Il supply OF moss ready
for storage the men use il for sleeping
purposes. But for the benefit of the
public il should be stated that the moss
is first covered with canvas or rubber.
The hut is. pcrforce, located on the
beach. There is common law which
gives all toilers OF the sea the right 10
ply their vocation on the seacoast II II is
necessary. There sno landlord to bargain
with. Moss singers, though cramped
for room within doors, want plenty OF
space to work in under the sun. They
must have n large area Of smooth surface
upon which b. spread their moss. and
the more moss they get the larger must
be their domain. Such territory, when
once stakcd out, is considered a good
claim, and other mossers keep of. The
sea is open To- all II offers a fair field
and no favors. Tho most Industrious
man gets the most moss. The moss is
spread out TO dry and bleach without fear
OF theft Theman who has good crop
doesn't lose any sleep worrying lest it
should he stolen, although itwould be an
easy matter TO do that without fear of
detection. All the men live together in
peace and harmony. They generally go
TO bed at dark and are the first astir in
the morning. 1t is peaceful life. and
full of interest from a naturalists stand
point Unfortunately there are not
many naturalists engaged in that limo OF
work, and much that would be OF in
ierest TO students is unheeded. Tho
men are after moss, and other things
have to give way.
Equipped with his long handled rake,
the moss Singer starts out in his dory in
quest Of the appetizing sea weed. If lie
is a careful man his dory is beached
high and drysabove high water mark
That means pull of hundred feet
down the beach, for the work of gather
ing moss can only be done at low tide.
Along the Massachusetts coast it is not
necessary to go a great distance before
finding tho moss banks. The lodges are
being constantly scraped. and that ne
cessitates an occasional change Of ter
ritory. But it is seldom necessary to go
more than a mile from the beach which
is prepared for the bleaching process.
To novice the moss singers tactics
are very mysterious. There seems to he
no method in what he does. He rows
until he reaches the rock which he has
decided to operate upon. The rock IS
seldom within sight, but its peek is so
near the surface that a vessel Of any re-
spectacle tonnage would be wrecked. If
the water is smooth the rock can be seen
to a depth Of several feet. Sometimes
it is entirely covered with the moss, and
x,raeanfc n very attractive anrparanca