Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-01-06
FAIR HAVEN NEWS.

FAIR HAVEN NEWS.
The Largest Sharpe ON the Coast to
| be Altered Into q Three aster -
Cleaning oyster Plants From Aban-
doned Beds - He Lost Finger -
| Successful Fair Haven Bark-Sp0fs
| Of Frost Fishing - Schooner Lizzie
| Griffin Loses One of Her Grew
EOcOuragement for the Proposed
| Sewer Pipe Works.
The sharpie schooner Walter Thomas
owned by Alfred Thomas of Exchange
street, is TO be heightened twenty-four feet
and re-rigged into three-masted schooner.
This little vessel was built at Baltimore, and
has been used many years by Mr.. Thomas in
his Baltimore oyster trade. He has also
made some coasting trips and has brought
several oargoes Of oysters to this place. Her
capacity, 500 bushels-will be doubled by
adding to the length of the hull The hull
will be cut in two in the middle and the
twenty -six foot addition built in. TheThomas
is probably the largest sharpe vessel on the
| coast. When the third mast is added, she
three topsails and two jibs. William Greg
DRY will rebuild the vessel.
There are several sharpies Of Fair Haven
build that are much larger than those used
here In the oyster fishery, but none a. large
~ the Thomas. The oyster dredge steamer
Stevens owned by Captain Ludington, was
formerly two-masted sharpe. After serv-
| hauled ont, strengthened with new timbers,
sponsoned out, deck houses added and steam
machinery put in. She Is one of the oldest
| steamers in the Connecticut oyster fishery,
has paid for herself many times and Is still
| in use.
Another Of these big sharpies is the Rock
Ledge, named aftdo we'll known resort on
Indian River, Florida. This sharpe some
three years ago was transformed by her own
| en- Capt. Isaac e. Brown, into q steamer CON-
Stunning kerosene oil for fuel. Several weeks
| were consumed in navigating the little vessel
Captain Brown in his fishing interests. The
little vessel had to be run through the coast
canals and inlets as far down the southern
coast as possible and the remainder of the
passage was made out at sea. The boat finally
reached it's destination in safety, although
several times given up for lost with all on
board. At Norfolk Captain Brown agreed
to have the Rock Ledge transported south on
the deck Of a coasting schooner, but the skip.
per at last backed out.
| A third sharpe was dscked over and sent
| South to ply on the St. Johns river carving
freight and mails. The little vessel was very
successful for a while, but with the advent
of more river steamers this craft, which also
carried passengers when they offered, was
hauled of the route The sharpe is still in
use, however, in various capacities. The
history of Fair Haven sharpies is an inter-
esting one indeed.
The last of tho Virginia oyster plants were
taken from tho "beach" beds down the harbor
a few days since. These oysters have been
allowed to remain longer than usual, because
of the mild weather. In cold seasons the
last Of the plants are usually taken up by
Thanksgiving, as after that time the weather
is too cold for the oysters which, unlike
those on the deep sea beds, would be ex-
posed to freezing at low tide. The longer
this stock remains on the beds the larger
and finer are the oysters. For many years
country towns to drive to the shore and Gull
over the beds after abandoned by the OYSTER
mon, cleaning remnants Of the plants that
made them fine feasts Of sea food for after
Thanksgiving meals. Oflate years, however,
this custom has been gradually dying out.
Lyman A. Granniss, of the east side, who
is employed at Benedict's coal yard as head
of the hosting works, caught one of his
fingers in some of the machinery and was
obliged to have it amputated, 1t was go bad
~ lacerated.
Rev. DR.. Hart, who for several winters has
been much troubled with throat ailmsnt,
is enjoying good health this season as a re-
suit of resting his throat; Although retired
from active pastoral work, he has had many
calls to preach or address meetings Of late,
bat has decided not to use his throat to any
great extent this winter.
The barkentine G. S. Bushnell has cleared
from New York for Brunswick, Ga, to load
lumber for Boston. This vessel was built
here some twenty years ago and after
sailing several voyages as a three masted
schooner, when in foreign port her rig was
changed to barkentine. She has been a very
successful vessel and has made much money
for her owners. Last year when bound from
Brunswick to Buenos Ayres she was dismast-
ed In q hurricane, but the lumber cargo
buoyed up the hull, which was worked into
port under jury masts. A few months ago
the Fair Haven investors disposed of their
interests in the bark, which now halls from
Boston.
This has been good season for frost6sh,
and great numbers have been caught in nets
set near stone docks and walls. Boys may
be seen every day under the piers, where
catch a few of the fish. A favor
lite resort is under Woodward's wharf,
near the shipyard of II. Fl. Hanscom.
Here the boys blow their freezing fingers and
eagerly await the/coming of the fish. As
soon a. one of the young fishers sees fish
the others pass the cry along and all is ex-
element. which quickly subsidies when hs
got away" Those who fish this way
seldom catch over twenty-five fish
while those who set nets in good places often
catch twenty-five pounds. These fish are
sold in the many markets Of the city, and
find ready sale, as they make excellent par
fish. There has been no ice fishing this win
ter, but the fishermen are looking forward te
good cold weather, that they may make som.
big hsuls.
The overdue schooner Lizzie Griffin tina
, has arrived at Gloucester from the CRANE
banks after losing one Of the crew by capsiz
ing of dory, 10 we'll known to Fair Haver
oyster dealers, having brought cargoss o.
Virginia oysters here for several seasons.
II II to DO hoped that there will be no fail
. urs In locating In Fair Haven the sewer pip
' mandatory that Samuel pewtress Of tho pot
tory talks Of starting. There Ia needed
. $25, 900 capital for this enterprise,
majority Of which has . boo. =. subscribed
offers to establish the new industry II
. !. Bridgeport, also subscriptions for stock, bu
. he 10 DESTROYS OF locating tho works here
!, possible. He has received an offer from
. New York dealer to dispose OF oil the sewe
pipe the works can turn ont and 10 positiv
that good trade could DO established a
once. Most Of the pipe 10 made In Ohio AM
l
!, saving Of twenty-five per cent. In freight
which would be very favorable for the Tai
Haven works in competing with the wsstsr
manufactures.
Tho brig Woodbury., that discharged
cargo Of logwood ct Belle dock, has sale
from New York for Surinam.
4 James W. Ives died ut his homo, 80
= Grand avenue after q brief illness. He was abb
to be out the day previous. Ho was clerk a
"a d. N. Welch & Co.'s store, Grand avenue
:. The deceased Was about 40 years Of age an
leaves widow and one son. The dscease
Q was q charter member of East Rock lodge
;. United Workmen, and this 10 the frst deaf
since it's institution. Mr.. Ives WAS . yer
genial young man and will be much missed
Fine Music at Trinisy Church.
= 4 large congregation attended the reguls
o monthly special musical service At Trinity
' on the-green last evening. Mr.. Nichols too
!, for his text passage from the anthem fe
J. the evening: "For we have seen His sta
4 and are come to adore Him."
!. The musical programme as printed in lai
d Fridays COURIER was finely rendered by th
:; choir under Mr.. Hedden's direction. M
Clinton Elder, tenor soloist ofGSt. Thoma
church, New York, was the soloist. 3
took the solo parts in the Magnificent an
:. Nunc Dimittis Mann, in A fat) and san