Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-20

All the herring taken by Newhayen fish
ermen are sold for fresh consumption in
Edinburgh and its suburbs, the greater por-
tion hawked as "Caller (fresh) herringp' by
the Newhaven 6shwives themselves. Quest
for these delicious fish is made in ever
varying portions of the Forth from opposite
Newhaven itself to the open sea beyond the
famous Bass Rock, the "season" continuing
from July IS, to the 7th of September. If
the boats are going long distance, they de-
part at daybreak; if but 90 or 60 miles,
they leave at noon. In either case they
make beautiful picture against the dark
emerald background OF the bold Fifeshire
hills to the north. Eacn boat carries a
''heet" OF from 80 to 60 nets, each net about
60 yards long and Is yards in width, and the
crew of each boat, as it passes out to sea, are
engaged in Fishing down." which means
slowing away the nets in the hold ready for
paying out on arrival
AT THE FISHING GROUNDS.
Here they drift with the tide until the in
slant the "sun ta'ks TIL hill, that is the
moment it begins to disappear behind the
horizon. The Joined nets, which are pro-
vided with buoys every 40 yards, are then
"shot" in half hours time; white lights are
hoisted that the little craft which continues
to drift with the tide, may not be run down
by passing channel steamers; supper is had,
and all, save one lookout, turn in to their
hunks for sleep until 2 o'clock in the morn
ing.
All of the Newhaven folk live well. 1t
is their boast that not even the gentry ex-
eel them. The women bring from the city
a good many dainties to give variety to the
coarser food; they are noted for cook
ing fish and always secure the choicest for
their own homes; and the fishermen, either
on short or long cruises, provide bountilul
locker, as 1 know from personal experience
and enjoyment. At every breakfast we
were furnished boiled or mashed potatoes,
ham and eggs, or fish, salt or fresh, white
bread from the Edinburgh bakeries, and
oceans of tea with condensed milk. At
dinner appeared that universal comfort of
the Scotch lowly kail-brose or cabbage
broth, great platters of duff and syrup,
more floods of tea. At supper there were
fresh or salt herring, oat-cakes, cheese and
bread and syrup. At all times there was
bountiful supply of good butter; and il one
became hungry between meals there was al
ways toothsome ''snack" of cold fish or
cold boiled beef with mammoth chunks" of
bread, and a hearty welcome to boot.
Newhaven people are best seen during
the daily market hours between and in
the morning. The harbor surrounded bv
sea-wall, with sides 500 feet long, forever
covered with drying nets and gear, has only
one little entrance; but into this have come
perhaps so boatloads of fish. Asmany more
boats are floating idly alongside. Perhaps
no more than 100 fishermen will be seen
about the boats and piers; and these are
resting contentedly from their nights labor
at sea. The remainder have gone home and
nturned in'' for a pood sleen
THE FIsHwIvEs' TOLL.
The women relieve them of all response
bility the moment the boats are docked.
They even go so far as to carry the purse and
dole out what Jock or Sandy shall spend
while ashore. The fish have been got out OF
the boats and are ranged in boxes, which |
hold about 100 pounds each, in the open |
space OF curious old Main street, fronting |
the harbor In this will be seen more than |
a thousand people, 600 or 700 of whom are |
the remainder comprising huck- |
Sters, children, curious tourists, riiraif from |
and half-dozen blatant auc-
.ioneers. These get sixpence per pound |
sterling values on sales. All fish are solo |
outright to the highest bidder for cash; and |
if the wives of an entire boats crew should |
De sellers of fish they must purchase their
ish in the open market precisely the same
as any other huckster who may come to
ouv.
The best prices are secured at the earliest |
hour; getting to the guidwives of Edinburgh |
before breakfast-time, being counted an ad-
vantage. There are innumerable odd char
acters buying here besides the fshwives-
old men with handbaskets, women
ind men with donkeys aud carts smaller
han themselves, saucy lads and saucier
assies, bareheaded, barelegged and brave in
heir strength and ways. But for 300 years,
ust as it will be with those who come after
hem as long as Newhaven, Edinburgh and
he Firth Of Forth are here, the fshwives
nave been those who undisturbed and un-
'ufied by time and change trundle daily
lway from Newhaven pier with nine-tenths
IF all the fish brought to it from the sea.
Their creels contain from 20 to 80 pounds
If fish. These carried on their backs, are
leld in place BY broad leather straps about
he forehead. Uncountable are the skirts
hey wear. These tall just below the knees,
md two or three of the outer ones are gath
,red back over the launches in voluminous
Duffs Stout, wooden stockings, stout,
0uckled shoes, and stout pea-jacket COM
Dlete the raihent; save that the married
women wear a handkerchief, or "mutch"
zap, upon their heads; while the maiden
ishwives 60 bareheaded. While at their
abors every article of their dress, save cap
and shoes, is of dark blue woolen goods.
PICTURESQUE FASHIONS.
If shopping in Edinburgh, or when visit
ng among themselves, their attire is OF
vide, gorgeous-striped linen, petticoat upon
oetticoat, and their frills, furbelows and
ewelry, would sIcken even the "show Clip
lies" OF Seville with envy. Those who re-
main at home, and others who during the
Ifternoon have returned, gather in most
groups about the stairheads of
quaint old Main street, which runs parallel
With, and next to, the sea front fthe village.
Here they gossip over local affairs, cobbIe
he nets, bait the lines, and do all odd things
hat women do in these strange fishing COM
quarrel.
They do not quarrel in Newhaven. Per-
laps it is because they are truly religious
ok. For so it is, that when 1 entered their
Free Kirk on Sunday saw more than 1000
If these people worshiping with great de-
Toutness. Stranger than that, the dark
and striped petticoats were gone.
Not one garment marking their waterside
Iocatiop could be seen. Sober grays and
ich blacks, costly as the attire at famous
Id st. Giles, had taken their place. And
IS 1 stole out again before the doxology was
nded, the myriads of creels hanging at de-
erted stair-heads, miles OF nets drying In
he sun upon the piers, and the swaying
pars above hundred boats rocking IN the
larbor, were all that could at least give
sabbath testimony that here was the largest
ingle fishing community, and always the
most self-sustaining and characteristic one.
hat the world has ever known.
EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.
Which Pfano Shall GetS