The morning call., 1892-07-02
AN APPALLING WASTE.
Young Flounder and Sole Destroyed by
the Tons.

Young tlounder and Sole Destroyed by
the Tons.
II you want TO see fishing that is fishing
get permission from Peter Costa to board
ore Of the little steamers that leave Fisher
mems wharf at O'clock every morning
bound for a days work at brakes Bay.
Peter Costa is taciturn Spaniard and
typical fishermen. He wears a blue shirt
and no suspenders, but for all that he is a
rich man. You will End him almost any
hour of the day or night standing silently
and th0ughttully. at the head Of FiShermen's
wharf. He is a one-ffth owner and super
intendent of three Italian fishing steamers.
You want 10 wear your heaviest clothing
If you mean to take the trip, for it is always
cold aud blusteTy going out Of Golden Gate
before daylight. A rubber coat will come
in rather handy, for the big waves break
over the little steamer and wash her decks
from stem TO stern.
They did so the day The CALL reporter
and an artist made the trip. at any rate,
and Captain john, who is Greek, laughed
and said that was very mid.
The Farragut is not big boat, but what
accommodations she has are all devoted 10
big fshbins. She can carry six or seven
tons of fish when crowded, and seldom re-
turns with less than two tons.
This day she brought back that quantity
after making but two hauls. 1t was still
pitch dark as she passed Fort Point and
began to steer for tile north passage be-
tween the bar and the deep sea. Her crew
of eight italian fishermen were sound asleep
In the forecastie, and only the lookout and
the pilot were on duty.
Two rockcod fishermen in frail, shell.
Ike boats were in tow. What they en-
duTed in tbs way of being tossed about ou
the huge waves through which the FarraRut
fairly cut her way. may be an everyday
occurrence 10 them, but TO one not accus-
toned TO tue sight their complete extinction
was expected momentarily.
They weathered it bravely for perhaps
ten miles up the coast and then had 10 cut
adrift because the sea was too chOppy.
They went inside the reef Off Bakers Beach
and cast their lines for rockcod.
The Farragut forged ahead. At Double
Point, which WAS reached by O'clock
three shrill whistles piped ali hands on
deck. Fifteen minutes later the fishing
grounds had been reached and the steamer
Gnlden Gate sighted.
Opposite the mouth Of the creek the two
steamers came together, and each took one
end of the huge net. Then the big seine
was cast and the steamers separated.
Slowly, very slowly they steamed down
toward Double Point. The distance is
not more than three miles. and the time
oeerPled in making it was three hours and
half
Meanwhile the seine was dragging, drag
gIng and accumulatng its great load of
sole and founder, and rake and crabs, and
stln gTays and mud end what not.
The nets once in the water. breakfast was
next In order. Founder fried in olive oil,
coffee, claret and dry bread made meal
tn at would have tantalized the palate of an
epicure had the fresh Northwestern been
blowing in his face since 3 A. M.
All things cease, and even that tlresome
drag came to an end. The Golden Gate
sounded the whistle for the haul to begin.
Fifty tathoms OF rope must be wound in
on the steam windIass first, for the seine
Itself is fully that distance from the
steamers.
While this is going on eight coal black
shags sail gracefully In between the steam
ers and take up position in front OF where
the net is expected TO come up. Eight more
soon join them, then comes a flock OF H.
A single beautiful stately albatross floats
gracefully and with marked dignity behind
the snags. III IS not his place 10 hurry and
rush ike the common herd. he seems TO say
but he arrives In time Just the same,
NOW the gulls come. They, too, know
tne slgnal, that grating sound made by fhe
IRON Sih0lass as 1t winds in the rope The
gulls hover about in the air as thew do
about the ferry-boats. But you never saw
ouch beautiful gulls as these in the bav.
Pure white are their bodies with pink heak
and claws and wings Of coal blackness bor
dered perfectly by narrow strip of white.
When the two long lines have been hauled
In and c0iled up neatly al the stern Of each
boat the Golden Gate crosses over TO the
Farragut and casts the latter's men her end
of the net.
Then the Golden Gate stands off, and the
Farraguts men begin in good earnest to
land their fish. The huge seine, now drawn
together by the two ends. is pulled up to
the port side OF the Farraguts stern and
held there by main force, while the catch
is lifted out by big scoop nets.
The shags dive like boys In the mil-pond
when the great seine nears the surface.
PragputlV rain ta
face gulping hard in their efforts to get
six-inch founder down half-inch throat.
But they succeed, and down they 60 for
more fish.
The albatross waits calmly and patiently.
He knows what will happen soon. The
gulls make a great noise. but do not dive,
probably for fear Of wetting their elegant
costumes.
The sea seems to have given up all its lie
TO these Tapacious fishermen. as you see