The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1890-02-22
CATCHING
The Leading Industry ola Little Town in
Dorsetshire, Eng.

line uttle tOWn Oh D., Oh tHo Coose VI
Dorsetshire, is celebrated for its Holsters,
says the St. James Gazette. Not that 1t
has not other attractions, animal, physiolog-
ical and artistic; but this is recognized by
all intelligent and thoughtful visitors as lts
browning merit. The fishing in general Is
poor; mackerel and whiting are only taken
now and then; but the pursuit OF loosters
is followed with more success. Parts OF
the bay, indeed, and of the deep sea beyond,
judiciously selected by the combined in
stirct and experience Of the native, are
dotted with small clusters of cork buoys
marking the site of the lobster pot below.
The lobster pot, as most readers will be
aware, is piece Of wire or wicker basket
work, square or round in shape, with
small entrance at the top, weighted below,
and having a bait in the form of a dead fish
attached to the top by hook, after the
manner of the toasted cheese in the COM
mon mouse trap. The apparatus is
weighted below and attached to a stout
cable above, to which in turn is fastened
the line of lighter material which carries
the cork buoys. -s~---
To observe the sport of lobster.catching it
is necessary to go forth, as did, in the YES
sci for that purpose equipped This is an
open boat, substantially built, of great
breadth of beam, capable of holding some
ten or twelve people. 1t is constructed es-
sentially for use, not Of ornament Though
of apparently clumsy shape leach end seems
at first sight little short Of semi-circle),
these boats, which are yawl-rigged as
rule, travel at great rate, and beng we'll
ballasted with iron keels of about foot in
depth, and weighing some four or five hun
bred weight, and ton of the same metal
under the flooring, can carry deal of sail.
With fair wind, under mainsail, gait top
sail, and a large jib to forward (having
carefully learned these terms it would be a
pity not to introduce them). we spin out of
the bay in no time, and squirt along in the
direction of the Isle Of Wight, the coast of
which grows clearer every minute.
The pots are out some six or seven miles
from $50 our skipper tells US. He is the
proprietor Of the boat, which, as he informs
us with excusable pride, wins the prize reg
ularly at every fisherman's regatta Yet
it is rarely, he adds, that they lose the pots,
except in very bad weather, unless, indeed,
the lines have been cut by some passing
steamer-an accident which occasionally
happens. In such fine weather as we are
now enjoying they are easily found. With
glance at the corks as they dance up and
down on the green waves we "bring her
to-" A hand leans over the starboard bow
to secure the buoys as we run by, and the
rest Is easy. ~w~--ss~xa-VV-~-~
Not SO very easy, though, so far as mere
physical labor Is concerned. A large iron
cage that has been lying at the bottom OF
the sea, perhaps for week. IN six or seven
fathoms of water, encountered with weeds,
and perhaps laden with satisfactory take,
is no light trihe to haul aboard, even for
two pair OF strong arms. At last, with a
battling and gurgling sound, Quit CONFESS
strange lump of brown and green, dripping
and glistening, and within the bars curious
dark forms scuttling about. Should there
be four or five of these (good-sized Holsters
that is, with the orthodox two claws apiece
that Is as much as can be expected from q
single pot-it represents in fact, q rather
unusually good bag, and the unfortunate
propensity of the larger Holsters to eat the
smaller companions of their captivity fire.
quently interferes with the desired result
The trap is then emptied and reset and
dropped into the depths again; unless, in
deed, 1t has been down SO long already as Il
require drying, in which case it will be care
fully bestowed and taken home. But the
attention of the inexperienced visitor will
be entirely absorbed by the contemplation
of the beauties of the lobster as he comes
fresh out Of his native element. He may b,
better to eat when he is scarlet, but he il
certainly better to look at-not to say mag
nifcent-now. Ruddy brown and jet blacl
is the shining armor of his back. BY tn
lower part Of this we may hold him judcious
ly, if we have learned how to avoid thos
middle and bloodthirsty claws, and the
spread out his splendid fantail Of dazzln
Prussian blue; beneath, the art green an
blues of the hairy legs fade into rudd
orange and the golden yellow of his belly
splendid monster, truly, but pre-eminen
ly and without q mistake monster. N
one could look at that hideous and myster
GUS head, with the cunning and wonderfr
eyes, the dark roots from which springs tn
strange growth of literally horrid hair, tn
long jointed feelers that work to and fl
like the salmon-rod Of the angler, these s,
cret claws-scissors and saw in one-wit
their alarming range Of reach and the
phenomenal strength and activity.
this-more especially to the sensibilities {
asmaller denizen Of the sea-be not indee
suggestive Of "battle, murder and sudde
DEATH" we do not know what should b,
But de naOrtttis nil MIST bOnuns. He NAV hay
been "bad 'un" there below; he is now, c
soon will be, boiled free from all imper
fections and devoured by ingenious an
over-mastering man at Oet your mouth
water, oh, We jewellers in large cities D min
pence or even sixpence pound. For mea
while our lobster-boat, having hauled mir
or ten more pots, is careerlng home und,
fair cross wind, with all sheets taut, at
rate that makes the foam explode in sho,