Smyrna times., 1890-04-02
Delaware's Fisheries.

One of the greatest industries in the
state OF Delaware during the months
OF april and May is that of handling
nsh' The work of gilling shad some-
simes commences about the middle of
March at Woodland Beach and neigh
Dorlng points, but by the first of April
thls hsh has gotten up the river as far
as New Castle, and for the next two
months the traffic is carried on at a
! thriving rate, from the lower part of
the bay to the city of Gloucester and
other points up the river. The life Of
a good shad or herring fisherman is a
hard one. He is compelled to he in
MS boat in all kinds of rough weather
or when the sun is fairly boiling the
water IN which he IS drifting He
must be out at all hours Of the dav or
night when the tide is favorable. sleen.
ing when he can. He must snbiect
himself to all sorts of drawbacks and
ulscOuragemcnts, such as getting his
net last, on which occasions it is some.
times torn to pieces, being run into bv
large 0oat, and many other happen-
lhgs OF much less consequence.
10 ht out boat for shad or herring
hshlng also requires a big OUTLAY Of
Time, labor and mOney. The exDense
IN hitting out new boat alone would
reach 500. A net like those used at
the present time costs $I25 and the
hire of "A boat for season is S25 Snits
0t rubber clothing for the two men
who are required in the boat lone of
whom holds the boat while the otber
handles the net and the fish and other
least $50. az
Until within few years only hand
MADE nets We're III use, but since the
knitting machines have been intro
duced in this country this is lust re-
Versed, and a handmade net has
become a novelty. When a fisherman
nad to knit his net he began about
January l and dropped everything
else bearing resemblance to work
GeVotlng his whole time and energy To
the work of knitting his net. This was
probably completed about March ].
ana ne was then ready to "hang inn or
TO attach lead and cork lines to the
leash. W '"0
Even now, after the latter ia
manufactured, the fishermen have to
begin the work of changing inn
early in March. Cotton lines. one.
fourth OF an inch thick, are procured
and stretched, Leads and dobbers are
attached, and the lines are then knit
on the leash. One net will last, when
properly taken care Of for two and
0ue-half seasons, although it is torn
so many times, that at the eud of the
second season the new net with which
1t has been patched predominates, and
there Is very little left of the old.
Lines will stand years of hard usage.
ana whcn the boat is properly fitted
out It will cost the owner or renter
very little for many seasons. The nets
are usually brought ashore and care
FULLY hung on racks, on Saturday even
ing, where they remain all day Sun
day. They are taken down Sunday
evening and placed in the boat. The
fisherman then gets everything ready
Tor the first water" after II O'Clock
Sunday night. 1t is then that some
enormous hauls are made, and the
brightest thing of the isherman's life.
luck, is experienced. Another bright
season is after the net has paid for itself.
to make big hauls, receive good prices,
and pocket the hard cash, all of which
Is clear. 1t is then that bis labor is all
prld for and his face begins to broaden.
Delaware City, New Castle and Port
Penn are the principal fishing points in
Delaware.