River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-03-15
CATCHING FLYING FISH.
A Profitable Trade Among the Natives al
Barbadoex-

CATCHING FLYING FISH.
A Profitable Trade Among the Natives at
Barbadoe&
Barbados, situated in the heart of
the northeast trades. Is one of the fav-
orite haunts of the flying fish Its
steep shore lines afford the blue
depths which the flying fish loves, and
permit it to range very near to land.
Thus the fishermen rarely go more
than ten or twelve miles from home.
When this industry was first COM
menced by the Barbadians. or what led
TO its establishment, / have been un-
able to discover; but it certainly has
been for many years the mainstay of
large part of the population and the
source whence the most popular food
known on the island is derived. There
are about two hundred boats engaged
in the fishery. Nowise notable for
grace of form or elegance of rig. they
are substantial unlocked vessels of
from five to fifteen tons capacity, built
in the toughest mSnner and furnished
in the most primitive way. The motive
power is a gaff-mainsail and jib, and
couple of sweeps for Gains They are
painted a light blue, as nearly APP
preaching the hue of the sea as may be.
and every care is taken to make them
noiseless.
The fleet leaves the ''canash'' before
daybreak, each skipper taking his own
bearings, and making for the spot
which he thinks will furnish the best
results. As the gorgeous tropical dawn
awakes the boats peaks are dropped,
tufts of sails are hauled up. and the
fishermen get to business The tackle
used is of the simplest kind wood
en- hoop six feet in diameter, 10 which
is attached shallow net with inch
meshes; a bucketful of-well, not to
put too fine point on it-stinking
fish; few good lines and hooks, and
set of grains, form the complete layout
The fishermen are of all shades. from
deep rich ebony up, by fine gradations,
to the cadaverous white so common ia
the island. Their ample fishing cos
tune is usually one sole garment-the
humble flour or potato sack of COM
merce. with holes cut in the bottom
and sides, through which to thrust the
head and arms.
AS soon as the boat is hove to and
her way stopped, the usual exhuberant
spirits and hilarious laughter are put
and kept under strong restraint, for a
single sound will often scare away all
fish in the vicinity, and no more be
seen that day. The fisherman leans
far over the boats side, holding the
hoop diagonally in one hand. The
other hand, holding one of the NAL
I. L i
into the sea and the bait SO ueezed into
minute fragments This answers a
double purpose-it attracts the fish,
and the exuding oil forms sleek or
CLASSY surface all around, through
which one can see to a great depth.
Presently sundry small specks APP
pear far down; they grow larger
and more numerous, and the mo-
tionless black man hanging over the
gunwale scarcely breathes- AS soon as a
sufficient number are gathered, he
gently sweeps the net downward and
toward the boat withal, bringing it to
the surface by drawing it up against
the side Often it contains as many
fish as man can lift, but so quietly
and swift is the operation performed
that the school are not startled. and it
very often happens that boat is filled
THAT is, seven or eight thousand fish,
from one school. More frequently,
however, the slightest noise, passing
shadow, will alarm the school; there is
flash of silvery light, and the water
is clear, not a speck to be seen. Some
times the fleet will return with not one
thousand fish among them, when prices
will range very high. until next day,
when, with fifty or sixty boats bring
ing five or six thousand each, penny
will purchase a dozen.
Occasionally, in the midst of good
spell of fishing, the school will vanish,
and a crowd of dolphins, albacores or
bonita will make their appearance.
Then the sport changes it's character.
Lines are hastily unrolled. living fly
| ing fish is impaled on til hook and
/ trolled astern, seldom failing to secure
an albacore 4r some other large fish,
varying, perhaps, from twenty to two
| hundred pounds weight On the occa-
sion when l had the pleasure of cruise
| in one of the boats, we had very poor
/ sport with the flying fish, only taking
about five hundred by noon. Suddenly,
the few that had been feeding quietly
around us fed in all directions break
/ ing the water like a sudden rain storm,
and we We're aware of the presence of
huge albacore. The skipper shouted
/ gleefully: by king, sab, aim
de bigges' albacore in de who'll
worl" He certainly was a
monster; but there was little
time to admire his proportions
He promptly seized our bait, and the
fun commenced For an hour this
giant mackerel lowed us where he
would; and when for a nom ent the
pace slack ened and we touched the
line, he was off again as hard as ever.
Right through the fleet he lowed u
and finally yielded to our united efforts
in the middle of Carlisle Bay, among
the shipping. We could not hoist him
on board, and so had recourse to the
expedient of passing a double blight of
the line around his tail and towing
him into the harbor. Great was the
excitement on the quay, and willing
hands not a few worked the crane
wherewith we lifted him. He scaled
six hundred and forty pounds, the
heaviest albacore on record in Barba-
does Peddled around the town he re-
allied much larger sum than boat
load of flying fish would have done,
and so the sable skipper was well con-
tent with his mornings work.-Cham-
bers' Journal
Nor ANY MORE Solicit feel more
stupid tonight than / ever did before. Do l
look itl'' She-'No; you look just the same
as usual detroit Free Press.