The Van Buren press., 1896-02-22
saRimptna IN HoRIoA-
The Pad Comes frsm France and Proralsss
70 Ee R0pEi&r-

The Pad Comes fr8m France snd Frora1%s~
70 Fse P0pHi3r-
TIE most promising sport tlis winter
iz 2. direct importation from the krefltsS
watering places, and every 5ody Wao
visits Florida now goes shrHInping, pro
uouncing it tze great Invention Of the
age. shrimping parties we're hrst got
ten m bv. some one who had spent her
summer II udeppe. and learned how 70
do Il, but the sort Of bathing suit n
which one frolicized VITA North Allan
tic waters last August won't serve at
al for shrimning n florida Down at
the white beach. most psEranized by
winter trippers, the shrimpiHg is done
az A reef that lies about a mile on the
hotels shore, where bath houses stand,
and 70 which. when The tide is lo~,
catboat viii only carry you one-half
the way
The fun begins Just where the water
crows 50 zhnal that the boat must stop.
Then the hoatmen. who are growing
used % the ways Of ladies' from the
north, must roll their trousers % their
knees, spring out into the water and
carry the women clear across a quarter
Of a mile stretch 70 the reef, all Of
which is proclaimed 70 be most un-
usual and exciting seHsatieu, alone
worth joining a shrimpiug excursion.
Down az the shrimping ground. on En-
tering the water, both cloak and slip
pers are east aside, and one appears n
bare feet and ankles. with full trou-
sers to the knee, and a belted blouse
waist with short puffed sleeves. Al
this should be in dark blue. or brown,
CT green flannel. and a huge square
sailor collar o. the same material and
color falling over the shoulders. Then,
armed with 4 I0uE-handied net, one
wades slowly ont into the water, thrust
ing the net rim IN TO str up the sand,
and then waving i quickly about TO
catch the surprised and scattering
shrimp.
When the net gets heavy gith fish
it Is emptied into canvas pocket
swung over the left shoulder, but il
takes a fun half hour to fl that pocket,
/ II one has luck. and one Wades IN neck
deep 70 find the lively little creatures
that can easily escape a fsherwoHan
who Is not swift enough with her net
and doesn't know how 70 employ her
ten little toes in roofing about IN the
sand.
When the tide begins TO ebb shrimp
/ ing for the day Is over, and all along
/ the beaeh driftwood fires wink a cheer
fuI welcome 10 the fsherwomen return
/ ing with their spoils. Over each fire
an iron kettle is swung, and when the
water, with one big lump q salt IN il
IS brought 70 the boiling point, in 20
The shrimp, to cook a fine rich pink
Expert shrimpers merely wash their
canvas shoulder bags. drop them into
the pofs, few minutes boiling does
the business. and wrapped in their long
eloal<s, everybody squats informally
about On the sand and sits about peel.
ing and eating the catch.
The sight becomes impressive wher
one slender debutante alone eats L
dozen shrimps at a single sitting, and
/ yet wears a yearning expression d
righteous appetite unappeased n tbs
! depths Of her large brown eyes thai
almost drives her masculine friend.
out once more in search Of sea food
Some very nice women have indeed
/ quite lost all record Of the number ot
shrimps they can consume in one after
noon, but plead in eztenuation the i'm
perial deliciousness Of plain broile(
I shrimps, when fresh from the sea, anC
the voracious appetite this species o
sport can excite.
When every shell has been crackec
and the fires begin to fall into Goals
nets, bags and kettles are gathered int
the lighthouses, a magnificent hug
confagration Of driftwood is lightet
on the sand, and all join hands and be
| gin TO circle around it, singing what
ever sense or nonsense may pop int
their heads.-N. Y. Commercial Adyer
tiser.