Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-20
THE FISHING SEASON
Some Five Thousand Non Find EMPLOYMENT
In this Locality.
Scenes at the ~ShOreso Where the
Seines Are Hauled some Of
the Varieties Secured.

The regular fishing season in this vicinity
for 1895 began Monday last, and. although
the Washington markets are well supplied
with fish Of nearly every variety. there is
a demand for all that have SO far reached
here, and the prices obtained have been
very satisfactory to dealers.
Strange as 1T may seem, the direction In
which the wind has been blowing for the
past Few days has been the means Of keep
Ing several thousand men, who have no
other occupation than fishing out of en-
ployment, as 1t has driven many Of the fish
% far out toward the middle of the rivers
and in the bay that they are beyond the
depth where the seines can be operated
When the season is at its height not less
than 5000 men-many Of them having homes
In this city-are busily employed at fairly
remunerative wages. At this time not more
tnan nalf that number are SO engaged.
The leading dealers carry on their busi-
ness In manner which reflects credit on
their enterprise. Some own tugs, and sew
eral vessels, which are devoted entirely to
the transportation OF fish, and they are thus
enabled TO have their fish, which have been
caught In the afternoon, in the markets
early the following morning
Inc arrival OF q boatload of fish at anv
OF the various wharves which are devoted to
the purpose OF the fish men is the signal for
an animated scene. Persons who have heen
present when sales are made in a produce
exchange know with what interest the
broker who wants to buy to fulfill his con-
tracts, or the one who desires to sell in order
70 make prompt return to his consienor
gather about the pit and makes the most
eainest ehort TO secure his object.
Asserting the Fish.
just SO. but In a smaller degree, is the
business OF selling fish conducted at any of
the nsh wharves in this city. When the
net Is brought to land at the shore it is
found to contain shad and other fish, which
are readily purchased by those able to in
oulge In such luxuries, but there are fire.
quentiy great quantities of other SORTS of
hsh, which cannot be readily sold In the
open market, and these must be disposed of
In another manner.
Accordingly, either at the shore or on the
Way UP 10 this city the haul made by the
Seine is carefully assorted. Each kind is
placed in a barrel barrels
"hen boauoao Of tish is tied up at
me wharf the captain finds waiting for
MN PROBABLY a hundred OF more hucksters
from every portion OF the District A bar
rel OF hsh is IS quickly as possible rolled
en- to large block or low table in the
center OF the room. around which The
criticise or bid for the fish which are Of
Iered Tor their insI ection. OF course, the
fish which are sold in this manner are All
GOOD, ana comprise the different varieties,
including shad, but they are not it is
SAD, quite as choice as those which are
sent drect to. the markets to supply the
persons who go there to make their pur-
cHaScS.
lie pest nshing grounds are. it is said.
nearly eighty or a hundred miles below
tnls city, and here, when the season is a
good one. as is the outlook at the present
time, the catch is frequently enormous
I'd fhxa loc
most invariably the case that hundreds
or thousands of the smaller kind of fish.
Which are captured in the nets with the
larger and more desirable varieties, have to
De thrown away, and in order to prevent
the possibility of an epidemic being oc-
cas:oned through the offensive smell of
decaying fish, those that cannot be sent 10
market are spread On the ground on some
are caught and quickly pioughed under.
proving to be the most desirable fertilizer
Life at the Fishing Shore.
Speaking Of the manner of life followed
by fisherman. a veteran in the business,
in talking to Star reporter, said: ..The
method OF conducting operations has al
most wholly changed within the last few
years. Formerly the man who hauled the
selnes, for example, had to work all day
In the water, with his wet clothing drag
glng about him, thus exposing him to the
DANGER or getting pneumonia or some other
disease equally as dangerous in it's effects.
NOW, when tie seine-hauler goes on
DUTY ne Is provided with a complete suit
OF rubber clothing, made in the most sub
stantial manner, and which is SO imperyi-
GUS to moisture that the man keeps per
Iectly dry: The day Of living in huts has
also nearly passed away, and in these
tin es the great majority Of those following
this occupation live in the boats of their
employers"
The season proper will last until June.
but after that for, perhaps, six months
more the fishermen will be Just as busy.
for the ccene Of their operations will be
transferred to the vicinity Of Virginia
Beach, where most of the big Washington
dealers also have extensive shores. With
a few days of bright, warm, sunshiny
weather, the Eeines will contain so many
fish that the hauleIs will find it difficult to
get them on shore, and the price of the
product will decline at the markets.