Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-05-20
Fishina Party.

Mr. Eiitor Did you ever go on a fishing
party? If not you haye missed half your life.
About 6 30 O'Clock last Saturday morning three
shelving wagons well stocked with good things
to eat and merry party of forty niEe left Barns
b 70 for days fishing on Mantua creek, the
boat and net going ahead. Although the air was
cold the sky was clear, the sun shone and the
many tints of green and the blue and gold of
buttercups and violets made it ride never to be
forgotten One thing which attracted our atten-
ton was the immense sasafras tree on the road
between Mt Royal and Paulsboro. / suppose
the most of the residents of this part of Glou
cester county have seen it, but | have never
seen it mentioned in your paper.
We soon reached our journeys end, Craig's
Fishery. The creek is very pretty at this point
winding IN and out through green meadows, and
bordered BY green trees. Just below it passes
one farm house three times, so you know it is
straight.
Il IS now about O'Clock and time to begin
the business of the day, so we got the net into
the boat (you know Betsy and / killed the
bear,' and the men and women Of our party
caught the fish, it is all right TO SAY WEI and
with one man TO row and another to attend to
the net, start out. Going up the creek short
distance they go to the shore where two more
sons Of toll are ready to take one end of the
net, while the boat making a half circle and
leaving the net out as it goes, comes into shore
again. Pushing the boat up on the sand. the
two boatmen jump out and begin hauling in the
net. This must be done very carefully so as not
to frighteD the fish.
You cannot realize what an exciting time this
is everything is quiet until Someone says its
IL
the water, then slvery splash and the net is
out of the water. Cleaning through the meshes
we see four beautiful shad and several herring
Everybody talks at once and you should see
the volunteers for the next haul. It is so ex-
citing that we nearly forgot dinner. but our
fishermen do not and soon remind us of it by
appearing with cakes in their hands,.
Mr.. Craig very kindly gave his advice, and
another experienced fisherman gave his aid so
yoE we could not help catching fish although
they declared that all the help the woman gave
was making SO much noise they scared all the
shad away.
About II o'clock they were called to dinner
and you should have seen the appetites The
YiGtuals disappeared as if by magic.
The fishing continued until O'Clock when
they were obliged to stop, as the tide was too
low
The fish were then counted, and we found that
the party of eleven families is the possessors of
$50 herrii &, and n shad. The next thing on the
program is row ON the creek, which is very
much enjoyed, then supper followed by games
in which every one joined.
1t is now time to go home and the mothers
are hunting the children. Luckily all are found
and with many thanks and hearty good-byes we
start for home. We had lots OF fun, and one
member of the party said it was the most en-
joyable picnic in his record.
Trusting that you may some day enjoy fish
ing party, we will close.
Barnsboro. May 10, '97. MINNEHAHA.