The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-03-14
CAPE COD IACKEREL.
n Fish That Makes Things Live.
~ In Their Season.
oo0stAlig About tho Hoats and Bait
Ter TAhaag ,Then The F1sher-
msn, Mako Good Aeney When
the TlsA Are Plenty.

I With few exceptions, the catboats that
I rendezvous at Edgartown in the fish
ing season are as clean as NEED be. OF
course, a mans home associations are
exemplified in the care he takes,of his
I, possessions, but these. catboats, rang
ing from 20 to 80 feet in length. are in
! epple-pie order, resplendent with fresh
paint, and bright with white sails, new
| cordage and polished spars. Speed is
always q factor considered, next to
seaworthiness. in these boats, and
yachtmen whb visit Vineyard sound
are often surprised at the great sails
the boats swing, even in fresh winds.
Most OF the fishing cats are provided
with cabins and two good hunks. An
oil stove and icebox are prime necessi-
ties. In the cockpit or standing room
gre slowed the kit of fishing gear and
tubs. A peculiar box-like mill for
grinding bait is fastened to- the top
OF the centerboard box, and fish lines
festoon the cockpit combing. These
fish lines are armed with small steel
hooks, on the upper end of which is an
oval-shaped piece of shining lead. This
hook. with its attachment, is known
to the craft as a Zig" and in its way
is cruel implement.
The fish lines are usually about the
size of twine made use of by family
erocers to tie up small packages. The
usual length is four to five feet. When
the fish are biting freely one man han
dies three lines. The bait mill is con-
structed on the principle of stone
crusher. Porgies and other fish are
dropped into the hopper, and with a
few turns of the crank come out in a
semi-liquid mass called chun,. Por-
g;es have long been used for the pur-
I,ose because of the oily nature of that
species. Chum of the proper con-
sistency is like an anni-seed bag to the
willy fox, and agood deal more effective.
When mackerel are hungry they are
not very particular as to what company
they keep, and to this fact much of the
success of fisherman is due.
When catboat is ready to put tosea
out of the south passage-and it is only
at certain stages OF the tide and sea
when this feat can be successfully un-
dertaken-the first duty is to raise the
nlackerel. The fish travel in schools"
near the surface of the water, which
is kept in continual motion by them.
as if disturbed by the wind. When
the lookout sees the mark of q school"
the boat is sailed into the locality and
hove to on the starboard tack on the
windward side of the school" Ground,
bait. a mixture of SHREDDED fish and
water, is then thrown overheard.
The greasy ''chum' spreads over the
water in IN oily slick. and as the par
ticles of bait spread on the waves the
mackerel swim toward it in searcI, of
food. To the market fisherman their
wake or ripple as they advance gives
much gratitication, but the city man
can hardly restrain his excitement
The fish reach The boat. tracing the
slick as fire licks up Oil. They fght |
among themselves for the shreds OF
fish bait until the water is bright with
flashing colors. The jigs are dropped
overheard sometimes, but not always |
baited. With the taste of chum the
mackerel become rayenous. Any bright |
substance looks to them like food. |
They dash at lead-encased hooks. and
the fishermen get very busy. Three
lines to d man is the proper number,
md the length of line is such that. it
IS easy with one motion to pull the fish
put of the water. II the hook is not
the mackerel GENES into
fhe boat with a jump, and by a simple
twist of the wrist it is jerkcd of the
hook into the tub that awaits ii. Very
often pole, armed with hooks, is
thrust into the swarm of fish with
great success. One man has good luck
when he catches six barrels of mack
erel day. This feat has been accom-
'lished on many occasions this season
~ the crews of boats hailing from
When the n,ackerel sell
for ten cents, each fisherman is start
ng properly to accumulate wealth.
But mackerel are capacious. One mo-
:'ent they may bite ravenously, and
hen sink from sight.
The fish caught in Vineyard sound
y professionals are shipped. as a rule.
Q New York, but some quantities reach
BOSTON By way OF Hyannis. A steamer
. employed ia freighting the fish, and
= the vessel is not large it often makes
rips loaded to the plank shear -Dos-
on Heralds
6;1
Queen vistesis In > snowstoxm.
IN the midst Of snowstorm Queen
'ictoria, accompanied by Prime IS