Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-10-24

A Nee England Industry that Provides
the Housew r.. WIN Blanc Mango.

Nee EngIsnd Industry that Provides
the Housew.ro With Blanc Mango.
Fair old Scituate boasts an industry
in which, if ~ no other, it is the lead
ing town in the country. II has, as
none OF its more wealthy sister towns
have. its moss. From the rocks that
carpet and make its shores feared by
the sailor is gathered an income every
year that may not be princely, bui is
still large enough to compensate the
town for ire lack of noisy smoky fac
tories and strong smelling wharves.
When the gathering industry
began IN Scituate no cue knows.
Probably the value Of tbe moss was
first discovered bv accident by some
Gsherman's wife The gathering aud
curing OF moss for food began IN Ire
land many years ago 1t was used
principally by the people of the south
OF Ireland. near the seacoast. Many
people have made the claim that they
introduced the industry in this cOus,ry
but even the oldest inhabitaut of Sci
tuate are in doubt as TO who was Tie
first.
The particular locality where the
business is carried on i, called Peg
gotty Beach" Little Peggotty village
is bunched here and here the mossers
and their families ply their trade
There is no oahag. Everybody is rX-
pected to do his share of tie labor
While the father is out in his boat rob
bling the sea 10 put bread in his fam-
ily's mouth and blanc mango and Jelly
into the mouths of mankind. the wives
and daughters are wadng along the
shore filling their aprons with the
smaller pieces OF The moss. The boys
are at the same time raking aud turn
ing the patches of moss that are laid
OUT in regular lots i'm front OF each
crecl house. The veteran 'mosser' is
on the beach at sunrise. There is
much 10 DO before the tide evil an
sWer.n and he must watch the tides,
With garden rake he levels OF a patch
on the grayclcd beach, always being
careful not TO leave "a footprint Then
be carries the moss that his wife and
daughters have washed ont lbe night
before aud spreads il on the smooth
spots. II is OF many colors, from the
maroon purple black, TO a delicate
yellow, according 10 tho Washings and
h,tachiugs h has received.
NE GiO5a man happened upon the
best possible day 10 see The process OF
messing a low tide in the morning
and westerly brerze-u not winds
what the men pray for. Oul by The
rocks at Third ClH the double spirits
aud dories were lIrcady stationed, aud
men were standing up Ia the boat poS-
igg around ia the water with long
poles. In order TO get Il nearer view
the G'Obc hired "a typical small boy to
take him out in his dory.
How do vou know when you are
over moss?' was asked of "a man whom
the guide called father
"Oh. 1 can see H. was the answer.
The unniliated could not distinguish
one rock from another nj the bottom,
but the experience OF years (for some
of these people have been here rs many
rs lh,rty years. makes their sight won
dertuily EceG.
the rake used in scraping the rocks
has handle fifteen feet long fitted
into j heavy iron head The teeth are
set very close together and are sharp
pointed Over the back part of this
head there is guard that keeps the
load from falling back Into the water
A. much rs two pounds of moss can
be torn oil the rocks at Que shove of
thc rake A good days work for one
man is l25 pounds of moss the cargo
seldom fails below 20 pounds. Should
the mosser lose run OF q rock which
nIlpt4 81 uopI xirld and Tur tutlipd