St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-07-19
Written for the FARMER.
CRAB FISHING WEST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI.

-
MISSISSIPPI.
The fisherman weAt Of the Mis-.
sisaippi differs essentially in his
method of fishing and modus uivend,
from his cOnfrere on the east side.
The territory embraced between
the Mississippi and Little Lake, in
q southeasterly direction from New
Orleans, il their hsbitual fishing
ground. It is only during cold
spells that the fisherman will 60 a
far south as Barataria Bay.
Leaving New Orleans, the fisher
man will pass through either Har-
vey's or Company Canal, on the
left bank, to the various bayous
whereon he has his home.
A. . class the fishermen are in
telligent. thrifty and hospitable.
The majority have substantial and
roomy houses. generally built on
chenieres, either ON the lake shore
or on bay0us in proximity to the
lakes. Their dwellings are neat and
provided with the most useful mod.
ern inventions, such as Charter Oak
stoves, sewing machines, etc. (The
lightning rod and electric light
fends have not yet penetrated these
regions.) Their fare IL good. Al
most every fisherman has his small
garden-t0matoes, cabbages, Irish
potatoes and onions being their
principal vegetables.
The first move Of the fisherman
after returning from New Orleans
Is to examine his cars and repair
them il necessary. Being on the
ways, they are then pushed into the
water and firmly secured to station
ary stakes about . stones throw
from the isherman's house. Those
living on the lake shore use bow
cars, those on the bsyous square
bows. These cars are not made
water-tight like fish cars, described
in . recent issue, the requisite
point in this case being to allow -
much tide water to pass through
the car ~ possible, guarding, Of
course, against the escape Of the
crabs. The Sizes Of the cars vary,
beng II to 30 feet in length, from
8 to III feet beam. 81 to I feet high.
After his cars are launched the
fisherman viii 60 in search Of moss
to cover his crabs. In some places
this 10 IN easy task, in Others It h
quite . scarce commodity. This
moss he puts under shelter foe fu-
tufe use.
The cutting and snoodine Of bait
d the next thing in order. The bait
changes according to the season Of
the year ; in winter and early spring.
the principal bait is catfish in sum-
msr beef sinews or alligator skin
parts Of the meat left thereon
are preferred. The bats ars cut
into pieces about II BY ? inches .
hole Is made through them with oil
hstchet, The snoods, usually about
Il inches in length, are then pass-
ID through the aperture and the (,
bait well securel thereto.
When the fisherman u ready to .
fishing. he places his
oil OF line on the stern seat q hls
'ki6, takes his bait. crab net, part
II his moss. funnel, tongs, baskets,
md two or three poles. His ishing ,
depends . good deal on the
veathef. II the day il fair be will /,
'elect the lake, and IL the latter il I
he will fish in the bayous.
lie will commence operations By ,
ticking one OF his poles down, gem i
rally close to shore, and fasten his
inc to the pole, . sinker being &C. 7
'ured about eight feet from the 1
take. He will thea take to his !
'ars and pull As rapidly - possible
q any desired direction, for should q
pull slow and the current be +
trong his line viii make . big cir !
le. The other end Of the line IL :
ecured to the skin, and when it IL q
early all out he will stick his other y
ole down, haul in the slack lin, :
nd secure another weight to it some .
istance from the end, so it may !,
each bottom. He will now tie on 7
is bait, five or six feet apart. tax. :.
g care to place = sinker every Is 7
{ 30 bats. A line may consist Of y
'0m 100 to 600 bats. This last 4
peration concluded, he will sit in m
bow sideways, (the weight of =,
is body being balanced by ballast u
the stern,) and will tend his line, =
Using it up \ little, so that the r.
nit bangles q few inches in the :
ater. With his net he will deity m
ansfer the crabs into his skin. n
eaching the pole, he will fasten a,
d skin thereto aud 60 ON shore.
crabs are biting he will not alb I.
mt himself more than 5 or 10 min M
'es. Should no be fishing home =
. win put the crabs in the car; il n
/ the lake, he will put them in ~
lskets, shaded from the sun With q,
/ awning. As soon - he il salts 3.
with his catch, or the weather.
heat compel him to pull up
axes, he Is through for the day.
e will continue TO fish daily until ..
, quantity is sufficient to warrant n
N to go 10 market. The crabs
e packed covered with moss, and pl'
ansferred to the craft in which he
opposes to journey to town.