Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-08-28
Mt Excui sion.
(COMMUNICATED,

(CoMMUNICATRD.)
As promised when the club started
on its excursions TO the cares and lower
bay, we, the members OF the Reform
Ten, give you few of the loading Incl
dents OF the trip. Saturday, the 18th,
was the date set for starting, but un-
avoldable delays deferred the time until
Sunday morning, when fair tide aud
light wind started us as far as Ship
John Light, where we were becalmed,
and remained the greater part OF the
afternoon, when a good sailing breeze
sent us ut lively pace to the mouth Of
Maurice river, the fzmous oyster grounds.
Here we anchored for the night. Monday
mornlng at G o'clock we started out to
sample Capt. Lees oysters, who, by the
way, is one Of the largest planters of Maui
lice liver cove.
This cove, extending as it does nearly
forty miles on the lower shores OF the
Delaware Bay, on tho Jersey side, is the
planting grounds proper, there being no
plant ng done In Maurice river, which is
u much smaller stream than generally
understood to be, II not being over 200
yards wide with muddy bottom, but here
Is where the oyster is prepared for mar
ket; large, raft-like floats line the shores
above aud below the town of Port Norris,
which ia tho principal shipping point,
there being branch OF the West Jersey
r. X. running to this place, but while
we are making mention of this great
oyster producing water II may be of in
terest to state as nearly how the business
is carried on as our knowledge will allow.
The first important point 10 to secure
good, hard bottom; then stake out the
claim, which is very regulate proceed
ing.
This done he then starts the planting,
which is taken far up the Bay on what
they call the natural rock or bed they
arc then spread over his staleed Claim In
the cove and there left to grow until large
enough to market, which Is generally
from two to four years. Although those
stakes look like young forest to the
stranger they are as intelligent az the
corner stone to the farmer, the oyster
man being able to di 'tiuguish his lines
| wherever they are visible. On these
grounds Is to be found the beautiful
weak fish or trout, as 1t is best known by
the latter mans, that, is What we will call
| H.. This trout is and has been since early
summer caught In great numbers. Any
Intelligent person can catch them. Our
first catch was on Monday afternoon,
crab being the faverlte bslt;the seine was
| Enough being procured sail was made
and the best ground so stated by Cap
tain Lee, and he certainly is authority.
Being about ton miles of shore we soon,
on arrival, were In the small boats hurry
ing 20 get tie lines out for the FIRST catch,
which meant with 1t the clubs fish
medal. 1t required but few moments
to decide who was to be the proud pos
SCISSOR of 1t, as Edward @. Newell landed
a fine black fab, aud. on Tuesday, at
noon, the medal bcirg flushed, was pre-.
sented by Captain Il. 7. Moody. The
recipient modestly replied and the en-.
bletn was pinned on his breast and worn
throughout the trip. 1t is now on OK,
hlbition at his place Of business, south.
east corner Bird and Maryland avenue
| where he will be pleased to show 1t to al
| calle Q.
Tuesday being pleasantly passed fsh
Ing and catching oysters, we proceeded Il
Maurice River, where we were mos
pleasantly received by the inhabitants
al! being neighbors OF our esteemed Capt
Lee. Here we had good shooting ol
the meadow 8 until afternoon, when tn
shoot for the gun medal was begun
This was contest that was Intended TO
three men, Shaw, Newell and Moody
There were no pigeons to be had and 4
looked like a draw, no shoot, when tn,
vast number of swallows suggested tht
means of deciding 1t.
The result out OF 10 shots was Shaw, Q
Moody and Newell, 8 each The meia
was awarded to Shaw to be finished IL
the ely. In Justice to one of the mem
bers, Mr.. William Haggarty, who wat
not In tho shoot and was not known tt
| hn ell Iatt 4, ,.
ground, he was not included in the
shoot, but with borrowed gun killed
birds with out miss.
The evening Was pleasantly spent with
Cap'. Lee, AID on Thursday morning we
set sail for Cape May, where we arrived
at 10 o'clock. The club met many
friends from home and ali spent pleas.
ant afternoon. We returned to the fish
Ing grounds, and Friday morning had
quite a good number 10 put on the ice
and show cur friends when we arrived
home, which We did after experiencing u
terrible storm on Friday afternoon, which
the cap ain stated to be accompanied BY
the most excessive lightning he had evel
witnessed. This lasted, with torrents Of
rain, tor more than two hours. The
wind and tide not being favorable, We
VT re obliged 10 remain at the mouth o.
the creek all night. Saturday morning
at o'clock we checked our baggage BY
transfers, and the club marched vi
Front street with as fine a lot oi fish al
any club has ever brought to this city
Except some severe sunburns the club Il
In lirst-ciass condition. Il. I. NJ.
Setting up for Themselves.
Cookman NJ. L. Chapel, at Thirteenth
> and Scott streets, has up to this tim,