Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1890-12-25


seemed to be miles OF it to be put over
board, and as the balls passed in rapid
noiseless succession through his hands it
seemed as if the fisherman were telling
an endless rosary.
The twilight only lasted for us to get
the net overheard and the darkness set
tied soon; we were ready for it, however.
While Captain Gus was busy with the
net the fisherman had been cutting up
kindling wood for the boats stove. From
the size of the wood, had anticipated a
small stove but was hardly prepared for
SO very small an affair as was drawn
from some remote recess. 1t looked like
section OF stovepipe with broad sea-
faring base and small opening near the
bottom for draft. The wood went in
from the top and the coffee pot, nearly
filling the opening, then slipped in and
rested on three small supports inside of
the stove allowing the fame to play
around its sides. 1t was a pretty and
cheerful sight, this bright spot of orange
light in the boat and the darkness and
cold of the oncoming night shut OUT and
| forgotten. The first of all interest was
the coffee pot surrounded by long Grim
son whiskers of flame. Near it bent the
old fisherman, anxiously measuring out a
heaping cup full OF coffee grounds, and
the glare of freight falling on the strong
ly marked weather-beaten face made it
glow with color like head by Rem.
brandt. 1t was pleasant to fancy how
easily one of his ancestors might have
been the model tor the old Dutch painter
and that the likeness we sawlwas but an
inherited che.
Before the coffee had half time to boil
and settle" we had drawn close about
the stove and were watching the progress
toward supper with keen interest. Just
beyond our circle OF pickering light the
night seemed impenetrably dark ard
walled as about as completely as the sides
| Vi house. Outside We heard sail boat
20 by in the darkness and it seemed u
sad and desolate thing to be out there be-
You'd the warmth and brightness Oh bur
fire.
The fisherman bending over the coffee
pot showed signs of poignant interest,
then came the soft rustling sound Of
mounting bubbles, then swish and hiss
and our coffee had boiled over and half
extinguished the fire, but what an aroma
poured from the lifted lid. There is moth
ing to equal the smell Of good coffee out
Of doors on chilly night unless it be
good tobacco, which is rightly but the
better half Of the welded harm NJ that
exists between the two.
The table was set for us on the rudder
and We were tod to help ourselves and
drink our coffee quickly to keep it warm.
There was no waiting OH board and from
the cup to the lip was but moments
space. Then came tobacco.
Captain Gus, with short pipe firmly
set between his teeth at hard working
angle, called at once for his rubber boots,
sleeves and apron. By the time he
had dragged on his high boots and cuffs
and was tying the stout rubber apron
about his waist he was about as water
proof as sailor get to be. The fire in
the stove continued to burn brightly being
loaded way above it's brim with long
cedar shingles which gave out a bright
unsteady light. We settled ourselves out
of the way of the compartments where
the fish were to be put and beyond the
range of the wet seine and waited to count
the catch.
Since the seine was dropped we had
been drifting steadily with the tide. The
long swees of the seine with the tide act
ing upon it had dragged us out toward
sea. The rope that fastened the net to
our boat had drawn out it's full length
and was Juggling vigorously; as you took
the taut rope in your hand curious ierky
motion thrilled up the arm, given by the
leads sweeping at a rapid rate over the
uneven bottom it felt as if hundred
salmon were nibbling and it seemed as if
we must have an immense catch.
Taking the rope firmly in his hand
Captain Gus began drawing the net in
hand over hand with strong, automatic
motion. The fisherman at the oars kept
the boats head as true as he could for
the binding eddies of smoke and sparks
that drifted his way from the fire. The
net came in, yard after yard, reeking wet
and with sea-weed clinging to it and was
paid into the stern of the boat with some
regularity, to keep it fat and untangled.
Then the net frightened, Captain Gus
bent over, took firm hold Of the net
with both hands and drew over the boats
side great struggling, foundering sal
mon. He plunged desperately in the net
but was caught securely with his gills
run through MESH With q dextrous