Evening star., 1895-06-01
F1sHERMEN's syPERsr1r1oNs.
Light ON Some of, the Mysteries of tn
InhabitantHs sOf the Deep.

Light ON Some OF, the Mysteries Of the
Inhabitantas sOf the Deep.
From the Fishing Gazette.
The legends, quaint customs and supersti-
tions connected with fish and fishing are
many and curious. Ask Scandinavian
why salmon are red and have such fine
tails. You will be told that the ruddy color
Of the flesh Is due to the fact that when
heaven was on fire the gods threw the
flames into the water and the salmon swal-
lowed them. The delicacy of the salmon's
tail Is explained by the story that Loki,
when the angry gods pursued him, turned
himself into a salmon. He would have es-
capped If Thor had not caught him by the
tail. Salmons have had their tails fine and
thin ever since.
Why are soles, plaice and other nat hsh
brown on one side and white on the other?
The Arabs of upper Egypt give an ex
planation which no one can hesitate to ac-
cept. One day, they tell you, Moses, the
1sraelitish lawgiver, was frying fsh.we
all know the Jews are fond of fried hsh,
and they cook it splendidly. Moses, how
ever, had only cooked his fish on one side,
when the fire went out and so he angrily
threw the half-cooked fish into the sea.
Although half-broiled, it came to life again.
and its descendants-all the fatfish-haVe
preserved today the peculiar appearance
Of their half-cooked ancestor, being white
on one side and brown on the other.
Why do haddocks carry those peculiar
tell us that they are memento OF the
pressure of st. Peters fingers when he
went fishing for the tribute money. On the
Yorkshire coast they say the devil once de-
termined to build bridge at Filey. His
satanic majesty did not start the bridge
for the convenience of the people, but for
the destruction of ships and sailors, and
the annoyance of fishermen in general. In
the progress of the work Old Nick dropped
his hammer into the sea. Snatching at it
hastily, he caught haddock. and all had
docks carry the imprint of his black fin
gers to this day.
Fishermen have queer customs. A few
years ago the fishermen of Preston, Ian
cashire, used actually to go fishing on Sun
day. 1t seems incredible, but they did. A
clergyman of the town used to preach
against this Sabbath Dissertation, and pray
that they might catch no fish. And they
did not. But they found out how to make
used to make a little effigy of the parson
in rags, and put this small guy up their
chimneys. When his reverence was slowly
smoked and consumed the fish bit-like
anything.
The fishermen of the Isle of Man always
feel safe from storm and disaster. if they
have dead wren on board. They have a
tradition shat at one time an evil sea spirit
always haunted the herring pack and was
always attended by storms. The spirit as
sumed many forms, At last it took the
shape of a wren and flew away. If the
they are Certain thai all will be safe and
snug. oh'
On the Norfolk Gbast they think that
feas and fish come together. An old fish.
erman near Cromer! was heard to say
Times is that you might look in my flannel
shirt and see scarceia d fiea-and then there
amt but VERY few herrings; but times
there are when my Shirts alive with EN-
and then there's sartin to be a sight O.
fish," Flannel-shirted anglers please note
Shocking it is to- be compelled to state
that many fishing siperstitions are ungal-
lantly directed against the ladies. Over
against Ross there IS the island of Lewis
sixty miles in length In this isle there is
but one fresh river Fish abound there in
plenty" but only LET q woman wade in the
stream. and not a salmon will be Seen
song about "Eliza's Tootsies.'' but the
immortal lyric does not explain why they
| should frighten the fish. 1 believe the
ladies deny the allegation in toto. In the
| south of Ireland an angler proceeding to
| fish declares he will have no luck if he is
asked where he is going to, if he sees a
| magpie, or 'if he is SO unfortunate as to
meet a woman"