Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-04-01

Won; the quaint scenes among the fleets
and homes of the fishermen Of PenxsnoA.
Falmouth, Plymouth and Torauay: the
countless fishsr hsunts In the sesthino
chimes of the winsome Isle of Wight: the
drearier reaches of the English east shore
where the battles with the storms and
tides are ever feree and strong; the Wild.
wailing, woeful coast from Yarmouth to
Whitby, which has seemed fated to be the
scene of the oceans saddeet tragedies: the
red roofs, the breezy shores, the cleaning
sands and the tossing spray Of Colding-
ham and North Berwick, around to the
south of the mouth of the Forth; the
snug town and harbor, the quaint old
streets, the luscious h-dinners and the
screaming ishwives of Newhaven; the
almost sombsr silence ever brooding above
the piers of Buck Haven; the rocky walls,
the stseiy blue of the German ocean, the
awful storms and the great dingy, cheer
less fishing. towns of the east coast, from
Aberdeen to Thurso; the brown crsgs, the
emerald slopings and the shadowy, moan
full assures of the Shetland and Orkney
shores, with their Dutch and Morse color
in faces and ways: apd the drear, gray
rocks and pufin-haanted crags of the
misty Hebrides, where the brave, half
starved crofter- fshsa Dsttres all his life for
mere existence.
The customs, folklore and superstitions
which have been the natural outgrowth of
their vocation have been practically change
lees for half a thousand years; and their
portents and omens are countless.
In Skye Ii q woman crosses ths water
where fishing is in progress, and among
the Newhaven men IL the name of "Broun-
ger"-that of an old Newhavsn reprobate
who was the inpsrsonstion of bad luck
and once lived among them-be mentioned,
fishing will be at once discontinued. Skye
and Harris fishermen have been known to
beat their wives dreadfully, not from any
ill-feeling. but to propitiste and attract
the fab.
ALL British fishermen note carefully the
first person upon whom their eyes alight
In the morning. Their luck for the day
will depsnd on whether the person is well
or Ill favored. A clergyman, a pig or a
cat are the most dreaded of all objects as
fleets are sailing out Of the hsrbor. The
sight of either, or the discovery of the
footprint of fiat footed person in the
utter the name of q clergyman or any four
footed beast on board fishing boat would
render the offender subject to bodily peril,
and ct least destroy all hopes of success
on that day.
All along the Yves. coasts of Cornwall,
Scotland and Ireland they make better use
of the dreaded cat. They secure favoring
winds by burying IL alive In the sands of
the seashore with Its head opposite the de-
sired course of the wind. Up in the Shet
lands and 0rkneys fishermen wear . lucky
belt containing dried offsl of three differ
ent herrings; and perfect child's caul,
which wards of evil infiusnces and brings
good fortune, hanging in the cabin of q
Ct l. a.. N1 ntrf,t
guiueas In any prosperous fishing village.
Among many fanciful superstitions and
curious weather omens which have found
to be universal with British fishermen are
the following: They never point with the
finger to smother smack. II the mistake
occurs both hands are instantly appraised
and spread Ia the attitude of blessing.
Three idle strokes of q stick In the sand,
making a figure resembling g cofRu, por-
tend death. 1t is unlucky to meet q
barking dog In the morning. If porpoises
tumble about In unusual numbers. or IL
sss gulls leave the open sea and gather
noisily along shore, storms will surely
come. Whistling at sea is the worst of
all portents; and nothing is so much
dreaded as a whistling woman ashore.
If a mop or water-bucket is Lost over
board from a smack the unfortunate
craft instantly Gets sail for port. Dream
ing of anchors IL a good omen. A brok-
en- lookipg-glasI on board will create q
veritable panic. To count fishermen as
they march to and from the boats puts
them in deadly peril. If blood bs drawn
during q quarrel on the beach all fish will
leave the locality. Nothing 10 more un-
propitious than the presence of women
wherever fishing is in progress; and no
fishermen will go to sea when the dead
body of one of their number, or family,
lies unburied. EDGAR L WAKEMAs.
Everybody should know what a good
medicine DIR. Bulls Cough Syrup is; Ii has
cured many thousands and Will cure you.