The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-10-10
THEY FISH FOR sARDINEs.
A Great Industry. which Gives Employ
ment 90 Many People.


The sardine industry in the provinces
of Brittany and Nendee employs a largo
population of men, women and chl-
dren. Nantes is the most important
center for the preparation of canned
sardincs, though La Rochelle and sew
eral other maritime towns are able to
rival the Brittany metropolis to-day.
The sardine manufacturers of Nantes
own over 100 important factories, scat
tered along the coast between Les
Stables d'Olonne, St. GILES and Belle
Isle. IL Is from the beginning of June
that sardines begin TO flock along the
Brittany coast. Like cod, they are SET
son fish. and their favorite abiding place
is at great depths. among marine
grasses. two or three miles from the
shore, where they assemble in large
numbers. The sardine is fished in the
same manner as the cod. excepting thrt
the net is made with smaller openings.
These nets are termed "manets" in Bril-
tany.
Every year thousands OF fishing
smacks start out sardine fishing. The
vessels are OF light construction and
| OILY III luI II tNill Nths A. ONNi AhfNNh ~
a squat they often have barely time
10 seek refuge in some friendly harbor.
| The average length Of these craft =
from 25 10 30 feet. They are fitted out
with a number Of large oars, the use 81
\ which Is indispensable TO manage the
boats on their return 10 port. AS a rule
the captains of these fishing boats are
! the owners as well, but i'm the past ten
years many factory owners have start
| ed fishing fleets of their own. The
crew Of an average sardine boat consists
of between seven and ten men. only
three OF whom are professional sailors
the captain. his mate and one sailor
boy. The remainder are peasants.
who make use OF the fishing time TO fill
up the farmers dull season.
The start for the days fishing takes
place every morning; the boats leave
port at low tide and sail TO the spot
where the sardines have been signaled
As soon as the fish have been seen the
nets. many of which are over 5000 feet
long, are thrown overheard These
nets have all been blackened before
hand with smoke, so as not TO brighten
| inc llNns ~ tilt sumo lililt ltlt liNlfAr
men scatter bait around them; the IA
vorite bait is called rogue" and is
made OF fish roe Once the net is filed
! II Is drawn into the boat. emptied and
thrown out again. The sardne spells
very easily. and the fishermen are, in
consequence, obliged TO return early in
the evening Mt high tide. As soon as
the boats reach the docks, the ''remar-
deuses." as the "sardine women" are
termed. seize the nets, stretch them
along the beach and mend them If nee
essary.
Meanwhile, the captains sell their
fish either TO fish merchants or TO the
sardine factories direct Once the sales
are made the "sardine women" in the
service OF the factories flock 10 the
hnrbor and clean the fish; the scene
then Is most typical and has often been
made subject for the painters brush.
Conversation ut once begins between
these sturdy fshwves and the fisher
men, and the relative merits OF the
days catch are discussed and com
mented upon.
Once the boats are emptied and the
fish cleaned the fishermen 90 10 the
neighboring cabaret" To settle the
days pay; the first proceeding is TO de.
duct from the days gross income the
several expenses, such as cost OF bait.
the days food. etc What remains u
divided into a certain number OF por-
tions, OF which the captain has gen
orally two, the mate one-half or one
quarter and the rest of the crew what
remains. When the fishing has been
good the days profits are considerable;
but on n bad day the men are often i'm
distress, as they have no regular pay
Tho preparation of sardines i'm oil is
as follows: The fish are first washed in
salt water. bcheaded and cleaned They
are then sailed and dried i'm the sun
or in aerated rooms, specially prepared
for the purpose, They are then slightly
dipped into boxing oil and when cooled
oir they are placed In tin boxes. which
are made in the factory These boxes
are filed with oil, Theoretically sealed
and dipped into boiling water 10 pre-
vent fermentation taking place. This
last operation finished. the boxes are
packed I'm wooden cases. filled with saw
dust, and are then all ready for sale.
Every factory employs on an aver
age $50 women. 90 children and as many
men, these latter being tinsmiths 70
the most part. The women employees
receive very small pay three or four
cents an hour. Those employed in the
boiling process receive n slightly larger
salary, this worl, being more dangerous
and dificult-N Y. Times.
Asleep at the Throttle.
train came creeping into the city