The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-12-03
quickly rowed out and made fast to the


hogshead, the rock opened out by the end
/ of Criehaven, and we were soon headed
for it on clear course.
1t was typical September day, clear as
bell, warm, and not a ii cple ON the wa
/ ter, which, clear as a mirror under a
cloudless sky, spread out and away from
us like a sea of oil.
Anxious eyes were scanning the water
as far as could be seen, but we were we'll up
under the rock before seeing any sign of
| flsh. Sure enough, there they were and
we could plainly see the extent of the
school as they rppled the water by swim
ming Immediately below the surface. De-
casionally the entire school would rush in
body-possibly startled by horse
mackerel rising under them-making a
noise which could be heard long dis
lance as they churned the water into foam
Several large schooners were lowering
about, their crews endeavoring to run
their seines, but so far had been unsuc-
cessful. The fish were wild as hawks,
having been chased by the schooners ali
summer but they seemed determined to
make a stand there, the rock being an old
rendezvous.
The water in that locality is compare
lively shallow, not over fifteen fathoms
OAooS
the fish were playing. The crews watch
ing them had deep water seines made to
set in not less than twenty five fathoms,
and it would never do to set them there.
particularly as it was rocky bottom
consequently they We're hanging about
the outskirts of the school like pack of
hungry wolves, waiting for the fish to
| strike into deeper water. To them it
must have been a tantalizing sight Be-
fore them, in plain view, were fish worth
thousands of dollars. In their boats were
the perfection of modern appliances to Sc
cure them; still, so long as the fish re-
manned where they were, they might as
well be at the north pole for all the chance
these men had of catching them. Not so
with us, however. Our seine was com
paratively shallow, made tor just such
work as this, and although the maekerel
were in somewhat nearer than we wished,
we nevertheless determined to try run.
| Leaving the launch to look out for it
self, We tumbled into the seine boat and
| dory and roWed near the school. each man
on the alert, realizing fully the response
bility of his position, and that the least
mistake on his part might result in send
ing the school below and possibly away.
Animation and excitement showed on
was sharply Uraced for the work in hand.
| Slowly we followed along with the
school, SIX men at the oars, a steeIsman
on the platform, two men aft to throw
the seine, and two men in the dory to
hold the first end of the net in position
when thrown over AS we approached
the school they settled and we feared
they had gone down, but they Immediate
| y came to the surface again.
| Being now in position, our captain gave
the signal, and the boat shot ahead as fast
as we could send her, the net trailing out
behind as the men threw it over. The
lead weights quickly carried the lower
part down, the cork floats supporting the
upper edge at the surface. the seine being
! thus held perpendicularly in the water
The vital question was, could we encircle
the school? We strained every muscle to
accomplish this, our oars bending like
bows under the force put on them.
Around the school we flew, the corks
bobbing behind us in a huge circle.
The mackerel, thoroughly alarmed,
were charging from one side of the seine
to the other. Should they by chance
strike the opening between the boats be-
fore we could close, we should see them
no more This opening was each instant
|
of success, we brought the ends together
Now the seine must be pursed up as
quickly as possible, for the fish might
strike to bottom and 90 under it. We
Immediately began hauling in the purse
line, thus bringing the bottom of the net
| together, practically making it a huge bag.
AS the net was being dragged together
over the rocky bottom there was danger
of its catching on the sharp rocks. Grad
ually and slowly the line came in. We
held our breaths. Would it catch? Yes;
but when half in it brought up short.
With blank faces we put our entire
| strength to it, but not an inch would it
give.
Make it fast, and out with your oars"'
cried the captain
This was Instantly done, and throwing
over some slack, at a signal the heavy
boat shot ahead. The line brought up
with twang, then gave way SO quickly
| that we nearly went sprawling in the bot
tom of the boat. Had ii parted? No.
Soon it was all in and the net pursed.
Then we, in nautical phrase. began dry
ing the Irvine. That is, we were taking
the net into the boat, thus continually
making it smaller, driving the fish into a
pocket, from which they were to be bailed
into the boats with huge dip nets
We could plainly see them, splendid
lot, struggling to avoid the men and boats,
and continually being driven back by the
Irvine opposite. There was still danger
they might strike the net in body, force
the corks under, and escape over the top.
We quickly took the net in, and had it
nearly dry when the fish disappeared
We looked at each other in amazement
and alarm. Hurriedly we took in the re-
mainder OF the net. Only two mackerel
in it. Those had become meshed into the
net and could not escape. As we took in
the very last the mystery was explained
A ragged hole ten feet long revealed it
self, apd through this opening, made by
the sharp rocks when it caught on the
bottom, the fish had escaped. There was
nothing to do but accept the situation as
it was, pick up the launch and go home.
This ended the season, so far as mack
erel were concerned, for on the following
morning We found they had disappeared
from about the rock.
HART L. WoODCOCk.
Many years ago Lord Harry Broughan
and Rev. Dr. Thomas Chalmers, two warn