Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-11-12
THEY FISH FOR sARplNEs.,
A Great Industry, Which Gives Employ
ment to Many People.

A Great Industry, Which Gives Employ
ment to Many People.
The sardine industry in the provinces
of Brittany and vendee employs largo
population of men, women and chill,
dren. Nantes is the most important
center for the preparation of canned
sardines, though LA Rochelle and ses.
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
Sables d'Olonne, st, GILES and Belle
Isle. 1t is from the beginning of June
that sardines begin TO flock along the
Brittany coast. Like cod, they are sea-
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 that
the net is made with smaller openings.
These nets are termed "manets" in Bril-
tahy.
Every year the Ss-ds of fishing
smaclSs start out snrdihe fishing. The
vessels are of light construction and
only fit for a calm sea. Ifovertaken ty
a squall they often have barely time
to seek refuge in some friendly harbor,
The average length of these craft Is
from 25 to 80 feet. They are fitted out
with number of large oars, the use OF
which is indispensable to manage the.
boats on their return to port. AS rule
the captains of these fishing boats arc
the owners as well, but in 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 1900 feet
long, are. thrown overheard. These
nets have all been blaekened before.
hand with smoke, so us not to frighten
the fish. AT the same time the fisher.
men scatter bait around them; the fa-
vorite bait is called "rogue," and is
made of fish roe. Once the net is filled,
1t is drawn into the boat, emptied and
thrown out again. The sardine spoils
very easily, and the fishermen are, in
consequence, obliged to return early in
the evening at high tide. As soon as
the boats reach the docks, the ''re1nan-
deuses,' as the "sardine women" are
termed, seize the nets, stretch them
along the beach and mend them II 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 to the
harbor and clean the fish; the scene
then is most typical and has often beer
made subject for the painters brush
Conversation at once begins between
these sturdy fishwives 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 go to 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 Is
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 bad day the men are often in
distress, as they have no regular pay.
The preparation of sardines in oil Is
as fo1lows The fish are first washed in
salt water, beheaded and cleaned. They
are then salted and dried in the sun
or in aerated rooms, specially prepared
for the purpose. They are then slightly
dipped into boiling oil and when cooled
Off 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 to pre-.
vent fermentation taking place. This
last operation finished, the boxes are
packed in wooden cases, filled with saw.
dust, and are then all ready for sale.
Every factory employs on an aver.
age $50 women, 20 children and as many
men, these latter being tinsmiths for
the most part. The women employees
receive very small pay three or foln
cents an hour. Those employed in the
boiling process receive slightly larger
salary, this work being more dangerous
and difficult.-N. Y. Times. ~