Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-04-14

ana hat, and large and important of rud-
ger, upon which indeed depends almost
the entire management of the little ves-
SEES. This being within the control of one
man, or two at most. the crew. whether
large or small, are left frec-handed for the
nets the method Of ''stowing," paying
ont," and setting and hauling, of which,
closely resemble those of both British and
American coast fishers.
The women do not shrink from even the
toughest labor on the sea; and it is no UNI
common sight to see wife and daughters
handling ropes, nets and sails, cleaning or
sorting fish on deck or vigorously engaged
IN any necessary labor of the boat. In
deed so far as my observation goes these
iishermen's wives are the propelling
active, indomitable force of their lives
and livelihood. Their movements are
vigorous and even vrile, while the men
| are phlegmatic and slow. At the tiller, in
unfurling or reeiing the sails, paying out
or hauling in the nets, slowing away the
fish, transferring them from their craft to
| the market bragozzo. in hauling the boats
| upon the beach, In spreading and drying
the nets, in fact, in every possibly manner
in which they labor beside or in advance
or their husbands, they lay hold Of their
toll with vigor and muscular vim ex-
hlbiting tremendous energy aud force.
Their reach of arm and stride of leg are
remarkable and the muscles of their
| shoulders and breasts show extraordinary
development. Studying them as have
often done when they were unconscious of
observation their strange, gruff voices,
their brawny frames, their immense brute
strength, and above all, their savage energy
Of action, has prompted the thought that
i any future Masaniello were to leap
from among the fisher folk with the dread
Shout of "Mortc al NAL governor the re-
slstless llberafor would prove an Italian
fisherwoman rather than an Italian fisher
man.
The superstitions Of these Italian fisher
men are singularly fewer than those of
almost any Others of his class and most of
those which they possess are of Il pain
fully pious sort. They are deeply devout
people. They are also densely ignorant.
They positively know nothing else in their
dull lives but their rude fishing and how
to eat and sleep. They are animal as much
us | have ever found men, although their
animal dullness ard soddenness is Of the
gentle rather than the vicious sort. They,
therefore, do not possess the quick and
creative fancy of their brethren of the
Scotch and Irish coasts, who, as one of the
latter once said TO me, catch more buga-
boos than fish"
This lcthargic quality is illustrated by
their inordnate capacity for food and
sleep, and especially the latter. The mo-
ment the fisher arrives on shore his labors
which, ii his quests have not been far
and dangerous, have already been per-
formed largely by women aboard his bra
gozzo--arc at an end. His banchetto or
shore coming feast is always ready, and he
betakes himself to this, while his wife
cares for boat, gear and fish, with the
rapacity Of half-iamished dog. nave
often seen single fisherman thus eat at
one sitting more than quart of stufa or
hodgepodge stew of shredded fish and veg
etables, u pound of bread and that dearest
of all delicacies to an Italian fisherman, a
polenta or chestnut flour pudding bigger
than his shaggy head with goat's-milk
cheese as large as his fist.
This done lie filings himself on his belly
upon the floor Of his hut or beside his
habitation i'll the warm sand of the shore
side street, and instantly becomes oblivous
to all worldly concerns in sleep; and he
will sleep from II to 20 hours without
changing his position. Often have come
into these little fishing villages and, while
all was hustle and activity among the
women, found score Of men thus dis
posed in Goorways or half burrowed in the
sand, until it seemed as though these sea-
rowing sluggards were all lying in help
less drunken stupor or were merely the
bodies OF dead fishermen cast up from the
deep.
Several odd objects arc carried by the
luck III general. A tiny paddle fashioned
from chestnut tree that has been struck
by lightning has unusual power for good,
although | never could secure the reason
for their faith. The figure of little hump
backed man called a gobbo, globe sur
mounted by Il cross and cock with star
in its .beak are frequently painted upon
the sails. All of these possess fortuitous
Influences. Another favorite good luck
token is little brass orcia or cruet of oil.
IL IS kept carefully sealed and FURNISHED,
and few drops are east upon the waters
II the flsh are not sufficiently plentiful, or
il storm threatens the interruption of
their work. But most essential of all
things to these toilers of the sea is "a mus
elmo or kitten. No bragozzo can PIT out
from land without this, and if such mis-
chance should happen, all on board would
surely be lost.
The blind faith Of these folk in the
efficacy of blessed and holy relics to APP
pease the wrath of the sen is indeed pa
thetic. Many keep themselves in u state
OF utter impovershment in providing
necessary amulets and charms. Not only
IS the iisherman's person covered with
these, but his boat must also possess all
possible saving power through these re-
ligious appliances. Should some great
storm arise and genuine danger come one
by one these appeasitive objects are cast
upon the waves with faith that is posi-
lively sublime. Meantime his wife ashore,
possessed of the same implicit and pious !
confidence, gives her most precious relics
to the sea that her husband may come safe |
to land And | have no doubt that when |
fatal disaster comes, as it always does, this |
man sinks into the silences beneath the |
tempest with his last spark OF vital con
seriousness an undimmed flame of trust |
and faith. EDGAR l.. WAKEMAN.