The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-10

pleasure. The usual number Of tin cans.
decayed boots and water-s0aked sections
of wearing apparel were caught.
There is something curious about the
way IN which old junk loiters about the
bottom of the bay. ever ready to be gath
cred in by amateur manlpulat0rS OF rod
and lire.
Everybody catches more than his share
of it and still there always seems TO be
enough left for the next fellow.
Then there are those pesky crabs.
Did you ever know any one who didn't
have most of his bait. some sections Of his
line and several hooks carried off by n crab
who persistently insists upon not being
caught? II you did he must be the fellow
who invariably insists upon hooking the
big piles which support the wharf or the
other fellow who catches the biggest fish
he ever saw in his lie and who just gets
him about an inch above the water when
kerplunk. and away he goes. hooks line
and all"
There were a lot OF those big fish al
most caught Yesterday.
Several men on each dock laid claim to
the honor and did not think Of fighting in
order TO determine to whom it justly be-
longed. either.
When the first man would make his ap-
nouncement every one would laugh at
him.
Then by and by No. would come up
smiling "Why, it must have been feet
long" he would exclam.
THE same fellow | had" the original
discoverer would chime in, and then the
two would join forces against the crowd
Of unbelievers.
When No. was heard from of course he
Immediately became the bosom friend of
the others, and-well. after three people
bad taken solemn Oaths that they almost
Landed a sea monster, of course the story
had to be believed.
Lots of odd characters are to be found
among the crowds who fish from the city
Wharves.
There are the fellows who make bust
ness OF it and run travelling markets.
They always h ave favorite docks. par
ticular spots, certain signs and peculiar
bait. Not until this whole combination is
in working order will any of these profess
SIGNALS drop line, and then they actually
catch fish.
This they pedd!e around to cheap res
taurantS or sell to neiehbOring fishers
with more money but less luck.
They manage TO earn about so cents a
day, and half n dollar is a lot of money
to man whose health will q OF permit him
to sleep anywhere but in hay or lumber
pile, and whose only other item Of expense
is beer.
There are twenty-nine of these profess
it used to be, but one recently went out of
business. aud all because certain sign
failed him. ''The Dude" is the name of
the gentleman in retirem emit, and he ac-
quired the title in this way:
Once in the dim dark past Dame For
tune was particularly kind to him. and his
DAYS catch netted Is cents. What to do
with the additional quarter for a long time
proved a poser. and there was great fear
of its being allowed to wear out in lis
owners pocket, when he was suddenly
attracted by an alluring sign which read.
bath 5 cents, shave cents. hair cut 10
cents"
gramme from Alpha to Omega. Hence,
his title. But to return to the story Of the
sign tn at failed.
"The Dude" had partner; Sailor Bob"
they called him, though he could n OF tell
ships pump from a town clock, and the
two appeared on Broadway wharf promptly
at 10 o'clock each morning. Bob would
stretch himself out on a Stringer and pre-
pare for sunbath while the other would
set about arranging the lines. OF course
Bob eventually fell asleep and then the
Dudes" lines would go overheard. but
never before.
Eyer see" he explained one day, II
never kin ketch nuthin' until him snOrin'.
and then while he keeps SnOrin' I goes a
yankin an yankin' of 'em in. Yer know
he alters dreams as amt ketcin' nuthn'
an we won't have no beer and Their fishes
kinder Knows it an bites an bites to fool
him."
Well, one day Bob did not seem to rest
easily. He rolled and tossed about until,
with loud splash, he went into the bay,
and undoubtedly deep into the mud. for
the many willing hands who stood ready
to rescue him when he came to the surface
never caught a glimpse OF him. "TLe
Dude" has not fished since, nor has he
done much else but loiter around that grue-
some building and Dunbar alley, and re-
peatedly inquire if Bob amt been hearn
of vet"
Then there's another sort of odd fellow,
the gentlemanly fisher who always APP
! pears in some sort Of family fishing suit
and armed with all the latest and newest
sort of fishing tackle. He never catches
| anything. and in fact never tries He just
goes out because he knows some one else
who does. and generally stops at FISH
erman's wharf aud buys great string be-
fore he goes home.
This sort Of man usually goes to the foot
of Powell street, and there were lots of
| him in evidence yesterday.
! Usually he has his line stolen during the
| day. for he is looked upon as being created