The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-06
PoReIEs IN GREAT sUHoo1s.
stenrnern Are PursuiuE the Ftsh and Main,
Rhersfs Arc AFTER the Steamers.

N-o NS- vs.
sherifs Arc AFTER the steamers.
BROOKLYN. Nc, Aug. 5.-Enormous schools of
porgiee have been crcasing and rippling tho
waters Of Penobscot Bay for two weeks. Tho
boys who had meta have been out dipping them
by the boatload and carrying them ashore to
feed to pigs and hens, the farmers have seined
them by the ton for fertilizer. and the old men
have wagged their heads joyfully. saying that
tho advent of porgies always brings good times.
Along with an oceanful of porgies have come q
lot of predatory fish, which dash In among the
silver shoals, scattering the porgies right and
left, making great waves upon the dimpled bays
and leaving long trails OF blood to mark their
passage. There are hake, paddock. cod. and
dogfsh every where, and all arc gorging them.
selves and getting fat.
The porgies appeared of Monhegan and Mat
tinicus about two weeks ago, turning the blue
waters to silver and making a noise like break
ers Whenever a shark or a dogfsh dashed
among them for food. Following the coast they
moved east, passing Thomaston. Rockland,
Camden, Linconvflle. Northport and Belfast,
and reaching the mouth of Penobscot River
from Tiyerton, r. L., overlook them, and more
than 5000 tons OF fsh are said to have been
loaded at a single haul Of tho SeI seine. which GtsS
has an area OF nearly a square mile.
49, hS'hs n ihk w hiubs
that the local fish wardens began to fear that
the food fish which follow the schools would
share the fate of the porgies. Complaints were
made and boats went out to make arrests, but
nobody was able to get on board the steamers to
west slde of the river were lighting mad at what
they believed was an open defiance of the NJ iine
laws and when the sheriffs and deputy sherlfs
OF Knox and Waldo counties were loaded down
with complaints. the fleet moved east and began
to- put out nets on the shores OF Hancock county.
Knowing how the boats had avoided arrest on
the other side Of the bay. Deputy Sheriff Osgood
OF Bluehin secured a steam launch and overlook
Judge Chase and answer the charges. Instead
of showing up in court Capt; Gray hoisted
anchor and went away to Long Pond. in Lincoln
county, where the company has lis headquarters
In Maine, taking a schooner laden with porgies
BY this time Sheriff Hooper. who has charge OF
the jail in Ellsworth. heard how the steamers
p psi K ff1ii'" " H NEW ' Warra n1~" arriving rfFh WIN Just 4
In season to see the fleet of six steam
s s5s sn and s s.1on linden I'd. RS r,, gess out The Of tns The
said several things that would not look well in
print, and that night took the train for Port
Dor about noon on the next day. Here, the Cap
tains Of three steamers said they hal been
the shore. Capt Bob Mason of the Curtis. Capt.
Gray of the Teaconnet- and Capt. Dan Mason of
$500, or 5000 for every steamer. provided the
Sheriff would let them go free. AS the Sheriff
carried a dozen warrants against every boat, he
could not consent TO compromise. and putting a
man in charge OF the boats as keeper, went up
town TO get a little rest.
While the faithful Sheriff slept and dreamed
OF glory and fat fees the. purser went ashore and
the bo'ts slipped out TO sea- 1t is asserted that
the great storm which swept up Penobscot Bay
that afternoon was caused by the remarks
which Sheriff HoopeE made when he learned
that the boats had again escaped him. After
going 10 Portland and consulting lawyers he re-
turned to Ellsworth, where he is making out
writs to serve on the three Captains as soon az
they touch Maine soil. II the Captains are
caught they will be brought to Hancock county
for trial. and when Hancock county is done
Waldo and Knox counties have great bundles of
complaints to enter.
Porgies have not visited the Maine coast be-
fore since 1880. when 10000 tons were taken
and nearly half a million gallons Of oil were
pressed out. The oil is used for mixing paints
and is nearly as valuable as the linseed oil made
from faXseed. The refuse or 'porgy chum,' as
It is called. is rich in nitrogen and is sold to
farmers for $50 and $40 a ton.