Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-19
CAMPING AT OLD POINT
The Pleasures of Tent Life on the
Lower Potomac.
GOOD FISHING AND BATHING.
Words Of Advice 20 WOuld.be Camper
How % Get There and what 10 Take
HOspttable and Attentive Nasivos-The
Many Kinds OF Fish % be Taken.

How % Get There and what 20 Take
Hospttable and Attentive Nasives-The
Many Kinds Of Fish 60 be Taken.
Correspondence Of TIE EVENING STAR.
a. HO has not heard Of Point Lookout the
AVA, once famous resort Of the lower Poto-
\hW mac, situated in st. Mary's county, Md,
ksome LOG miles from Washington, at q
W. point where the Potomac empties into
the Chesapeake bay. During the war this place
was converted by the Union forces into a stock
ade and thousands of confederate prisoners
were corraled there from time to time. The
earthworks of several forts, together with the
remains Of posts which formed the barriers,
numerous mounds, supposed to be graves
of the many who died during their imprison-
ment, and innumerable blood curdling
stories told by some of the natives are
about all that now remains to remind
one Of its former Importance. Then
and for the ten years following the war the
point was one of the most promising places on
the river, the location, its handsome cottages,
good hotels, elegant streets and excellent bath
ing and fishing facilities, together with
the seemingly immediate prospects of
railway connection with Washington and
Baltimore, babe fair to make it a resort
second to none. But, alas, titles have
become tangled, fires headed off the improve
ments, spectators imposed on the people. and,
despite the rslroad-in fact, two roads have
been surveyed, graded and partly finished-to-
day the place can scarcely be recognized, and
is really nothing more than lighthouse sup
ply station; but few houses remain, and they
are so dilapidated that habitation is out Of the
question. The property has passed into the
hands Of party of capitalists, Mr.. Frank
Hume of Washington being among the num-
Der, and sort of family disturbance seems to
hang over its future, and it is an open ques-
ton whether matters will ever be shaped as
to induce the resurrection of the place as q re-
sort.
CAMPING OUT.
Numerous families make annual pilgrimages
with tents and camp supplies to this plsce-far
enough from other resorts to be quiet, yet close
enough for all practical purposes-and they in
variably have q royal good time of it, but to
come with any other objec. in view than
camping would be foolish in the extreme, and
unless one is prepared to put up with numcr-
GUS Inconvenience and annoyances the essen
tials Of such an undertaking, q wide berth bet
ter be given. If, however, the experiment is
desired let the following hints be jotted down
that some of the vexations may be avoided:
SOME WORDS OF ADVICE.
First it must be understood that Point Look
out, aside from the government reservation, is
private property and is under lease to Commo-
dore VIM. Yeatman, the keeper Of the light
house, and ordinary courtesy suggests getting
permission from him to pitch your camp, a re-
quest that is denied to no responsible party as
the Jolly commodore is always glad to have de-
sirable company and there is nothing too good
with him for such as do not abuse his gener-
osity. Surrounded by. as he puts it, eleven
head of children, he is ever ready and willing
to add his help to overcome difficulties and in
sure pleasant outing.
10 get here take the Lady of the Lake either
Thursday or Saturday at pm. and shortly
after midnight you will be landed at the gov
eminent wharf. and thrown, as it were, into
the arms of the natives-I say arms because
the people here are the most generous, whole
souled and accommodating in the wOrld-con-
gregating in large numbers the boat arrives,
always ready to take strangers in, both fgur-
atlvely speaking and in reality. They pitch in,
take your traps from the wharf, load them into
the OK carts and relieve you Of all anxiety,
finally dumping them down at the camping
place for small pittance. Nor do their atten-
tons end here, for throughout the season they
bring all kinds Of garden truck, milk, butter,
chickens, fish, berries de-, which they are glad
to sell at prices far below those of the city.
THE BEST PLACE
to camp is on the bay shore, and at present
some ten or twelve different parties are located
there, and a jolly crowd they make. The beach
is fine, with no undertow. The bathing is good
and enough OF the ocean in it to suit the most
fastidious. With the bay i'll front and south of
you, the opposite shore out of sight and u river
over 10 miles wide at your back some idea can
be formed as to the likelihood of a sea breeze
and though the points reputation has been
vilifed and slandered by some who claim
Point Lookout has more mosquitoes to the
square inch than any other place on the river,
- kt.a ~ hoe rl,<Nn
that they seldom prove annoying, and then
only when the breeze happens to be from up
the country.
on the bay Is decidedly varied and interesting
with hundreds of boats of every description,
from the light nancy to the four masters and
ocean steamers, here and there a school of
porpoises and an occasional shark fin, myriads
of gulls and ducks, the jumping Of fish and the
rolling Of the surf. all contribute to make life
pleasant. The light house il by far the largest
on the river, being supply station. everything
is of the best and the keeper, Mr.. Yeatman, is
one of the most trusted men in the service,
always at his post, seldom If ever getting
away from his charge. He has been retained
through the administrations of both political
parties. His surroundings are kept in apple pie
order. The wharf extends far out into the
river and from Of the end some Of the best Of
fish are taken.
FISHING.
From the wharf salt water fish Of, almost
every variety are captured, while those who
venture out in boats, Of which there are guam
titles, with experienced sailors, are rewarded
with sheephead, tailors, trout, &C., Of much
larger size.
Mr.. Yeatman has provided himself with trap
nets, seines, &C., and frequently makes good
catches, and the hauling in Of his nets is the
signal for rare sport and albeit some hard
work. As the final haul is made and the many
varieties Of fish are gradually brought together
the sport is exciting From the inter esting
jelly fish the list embraces crabs, toad and spine
fish swelled to immense size, miller thumbs.
stimgarees, eels, founders, turtles. spot, croak-
ers, pig fish. perch, trout, tallors rock, sheep
head, drums and occasionally a shark. Now
and then pOmpanO and u few Spanish mack
| erel are caught. This is picnic for the
campers and soon after the air is filled with
smoke from the many fires where fish are be-
| ing cooked. Not in stove, but wrapped care
fully in paper and buried far down in the Goals,
| sand and ashes. ''Ye gods, but they're fine''
planked or roasted on forked stick. but none
| of your readers have ever eaten fish las is
| fish," nor will they till, perchance, they get
HAND LINERS AND ANGLERS.
As above iDtimated, the fishing is fine
throughout the season, and it requires little
piscatorial experience to land almost any va
riety of the fnny tribe desired A few hints.
however, bearing OH tackle habits aud batting