New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-08
.STTRGEON FISHERIES Ar BAY SIDE.


4 FLEET or SIXTY BONTS SAILS OVER DELLA
WARE Dly DAILY FOR THE GREAT FISH
BAY side y j.. June CspeciaD.-Thc Sturgeon fish
ing season a BAY side is drawing 10 q CLOSE about
June 10 being the last catch at this famous fishing
ground. The closing ha> been one OF
the most successful for years. the catch being large
and prices ruling high. owing 10 the scarcity OF
other Of fish. nice buck sturgeon bring ~ per
hundrcdvcirhr. \ visit To Bay side during the
fishing season is time well spent. and persons who
have never been there form but faint con
ccption how the vast business IS carried on. II Is
indeed great study and hours may be spent In
v1tucssina the army Of mon In their 'lnoN'nt
Lranchc, Of the work TO be done, every day from
early morning until late At night, toing on some
DAYS eighteen Of the twenty four hours. There Is
much work Ia preparing these fish for market. and
"A, is the case with other business the most
adept in his branch Is the one envicd by his
competitor
When the sturgeon fishing began at Bay side
when fishermen first cast their nets there. they
could be counted bakers dozen i" day there
are between 400 and 800 men and boys employed
there The season opens IN March. and gives employ
ucnt 10 these persons for three months. Then when
the season closes the are transferred farther
up the river 10 near pcnnsgrove where tile h'h 20
after leaving tho Bay. The men worh by thc month
or else on shares. Forty dollars month and board
are the wages paid. while those working Oh shares
sixty cat rugged boats engaged IN the work, ana
as they sail and from the fishing grounds. their
white sails dOtting the watcry surface a beautiful
sight is presented the eye. These boats are manned
by seafarng crews, and more hospiiablc In their
nature can seldom be- found.
The mode Of fishing Is interesting and unique.
Oftcn three catches "A day are taken. and the work
OF laying and taking up the net is Luxurious. The
boats leave !hcir mOorngs nj pretty much the same
time ana no matter how early In the doy the tide
suits, the sturdy and sun Drowned fishermen are at
the helm ready for the first psh. Two men work "A
boat when the fishing ground is reached the net
is laid on and the men await the result. As soon a.
a sturgeon strikes the mcshc- the men Immediately
loosen the and with boathooks fastened I'm the
fshs gills haul IL board. This requires some
strength, especially when sturgeon is nettcd that
weighs or ponds After the high water fish
Ing il the boats come TO the wharvee where the
| Strengthening IS done. ON the wharves dcrrlcks,
which used In hosting the fish from the boats.
the wharf the butchers take charge Of them.
| II sturgeon II Is cut open while yet alive and
the caviarc taken out. In any ease the head
/, chopped of, then the tail aftcrward with one
long clean cut the fish IS split from TO end two
long strokes with keen edged knife sever the sides
| from the backbone. The ofa il all thrown into "A
pile. The fish Is then scrubbed with cold water, cut
Into marketable pieces and packed. IL Is then ready
for shipment. The sturgeon Is cold blooded fish,