Iuka reporter., 1889-10-03
MOSS SINGING"
ONE QUEER AND SOMEWHAT
ROUGH SEASIDE INDUSTRY.

Massachusetts Fishermen Who
Have Quilted Fishing for Mack
erel, &c.
"Moss singing" is all the rage along
the south shore of Massachusetts, Bay
this summer. 1t is the only industry
that pays, simmer hotels excepted, and
as 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 they 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 o
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 fish
OE UilCtii III oClhSo, aip
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 seaweed, which is called moss.
1t is not moss, and 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
pleasant occupation. Maud Muller
would have entered a dainty protest if
she had been obliged to spend q 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
long handled iron rake. The teeth are
fully six inches long, and set close to-
gether, and the handle is at least twenty
carries with him in the line of extra
equiprAent. 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 just as 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 as was that of the
"49ers. A simple hut suffices for par
lor, kitchen, bedroom and storehouse.
There is but one room as rule. Wis tors
are not always welcome, for there is no
room in which to put them. Cooking,
eating and sleeping are conducted un-
der more or less difficulty, and without
home comforts and conveniences. 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 supply of moss ready
for storage the men use it for sleeping
purposes. But for the benefit of the
public it should be stated that the moss
is first covered with canvas OF rubber.
The hut is, perforce, located on the
beach. There is q common law which
| gives all toilers of the sea the right to
ply their vocation ON the seacoast if it is
necessary. There isno landlord to bargain
with. Moss singers, though cramped
for room within doors, want plenty ol
space to work in under the sun. They
must have a large area of smooth surface
upon which to spread their moss, and
the more moss they get the larger mus
be their domain. Such territory, wher
once staked out, is considered good
claim, and other mossers keep off. The
sea is open to all. It offers n fair fie!(
and no favors. Tlfe most industrious
man gets the most moss. The moss il
spread out to dry and bleach without fcal
OF theft. The man who has good "crop'
doesn't lose any sleep worrying lest i
should be stolen, although itwould be al
easy matter to do that without fear o.
detection. All the men live together in
peace and harmony. They generally &c
to bed at dark and are the first astr ir
the morning. 1t is peaceful life, ano
full of interest from naturalists s stand
point. Unfortunately there are moi
many naturalists engaged in that line O
work, and much that would be of in
terest to students is unheeded. The
men are after moss, and other thingl
have to give way.
Equipped with his long handled rake
the moss singer starts out in his dory il
quest of the appetizing sea weed. If h,
is careful man his dory is beachet
high and dry above high water mark
That means pull of hundred fee
down the beach, for the work of gather
ing moss can only be done at low tide
Along the Massachusetts coast it is no
necessary to go a great distance bcfor,
finding the moss banks. The lodges ar,
being constantly scraped, and that ne
cessitates an occasional change of ter
ritory. But it is seldom necessary to g,
more than mile from the beach which
is prepared for the bleaching process.
To novice the moss singers tactics
are very mysterious. There seems to b,
no method in what he does. He rows
until he reaches the rock which he hal
decided to operate upon. The rock j,
seldom within sight, but its peek is SC
near the surface that vessel OF any re
spectacle tonnage would be wrecked.
the water is smooth the rock can be seer
to depth of several feet. Sometimes
it is entirely covered with the moss, anc
presents n yery attractive nppearanct