The Washington times., 1895-02-03


of one Of the low, rakish sehooners. He has
great bushy military side Yhiskers. ike an
English guardsman. and nearly always
smokes a stumpy clay pipe, highly colored
with nicotine, which he calls his nose
warmer"
This captains forte is relating remarkable
stories about his encounters with the oyster
nayies of Virginia and Maryland. According
to his statements the Governors Of the above
States have selected the poorest niarksmen
they could find in any nook or corner Of their
respective baiiiwicks. This capitano militant
has been shot at galore by rifles, pistols, gat-
ling guns and cannon, still be is without a
mark or blemish on his person and as proudly
treads the deck Of his little schooner as 3
g0ld-laced admiral Of tie White Squadron.
The sailors on the oyster feet are q pic
turesque LOT Of fellows. They wear oilskin or
rubber coats and Ror'wester hats. But their
weakness is boots. Every man and boy had
on pair Of high-topped boots, and they
strode about the wharf like a lot of cavaliers
scenting the battle smoke from afar.
The cabins Of the oyster boats. II most ir-
stances. are veritable arsenals. for the wharf
is frequently visited by midnight Prowlers,
who well know that the captains each have
a bag of shekels II their possession, the pro-
ceeds OF recent sales But woe betlde the
thief caught on the dock after nightfall. He
would more than likely have to run the
gauntlet of a fusilade Of shots from pistols
and guns of all sizes, kinds and conditions.
POLICE BOAT ALWAYS on HAND.
Commodore Sutton and his snorting, fast
gliding little police steamer, the Joe Black
burn, play an important part in regulating
trafle and preserving order among the vessels
Of the oyster feet. He is frequently called
upon to bring order out Of chaos when the
vessels become mixed in disOrderiy muddle
n n 1aafTa ha -fc-hF Of md
perform many other phases Of maritime
police service.
I n the spring after the "r.' months havs
gone. the oyster wharf becomes matter OF
last winters history. Then the river Is given
up 10 shad, herring. and sturgeon fisheries,
and the erstwhile bivalve pier becomes the
fish wharf where many thousands OF PotO-
mac herring are received and picked for the
home and foreign markets. for salted and
smoked Potomac herring have a reputation
the wide world over. After the fishing sea-
son is over. there is a lull at the old wharf
until the watermelon season opens, and il Is
again transformed into the watermelon pier,
and little sIoops and schooners from down
the river come up laden with masses Of the
green MELONS piled high on their decks.
And so it goes, the wharfs playing an i'm
portant part in Washington's riyer-front
traffic during the flying SHOWS of winter, the
geniality OF spring, and the oppressive heat OF
summer.
As the reporter was starting from the busy
mart last evening on his way up town the
sombre mantle Of night was slowly settling
over the place.
Across the rippling Potomac, beyond the
marshy stretches of the flats, was a Deepen
ing background of ehurning gray clouds.
Silhouetted against It was forest Of masts,
waving gently to and fro as the little oyster
schooners that bore them bobbed up and
down with the ebb tide.
Out in the middle of the stream was
jaunty pungy about to proceed on her journey
down the river to the broad, green-surfaeed
Chesapeake.
Her crew were keeping sime to the merry
rattle of the capstan as they sang the quaint
river song:
"Heigh. no, Tom Gridley,
Hoist her higher and higher.
Soon wen be OF an EOin',
For our staunch ships a flyer"