Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-02

which the fish pass in, seeking to ma an
opening I'm the net as they press 'nen
way towards the rivers. oDedlehl 10 inc
instinct which draws them 10 fresh water
at the spawning season. The last Of these
commandments has a wedge-shaped mouth
or entrance, so arranged that when the
fish once enter it they cannot ind their
way out
AS a means of catching the eyes or
pilots on passing vessels, and Tor the
protection Of the traps, stout cedar
boughs are fastened on the tops OF some
OF the poles. These. looming up above the
water like warning sentinels, are Vlsl-
bic for miles. Lanterns are kept burn
ing above the traps also TO prevent
them from being run over in the dark.
In approaching the trap on the morn
ing of my visit, the larger boat was
guided to the front side OF 1t and the
smaller one to the rear, and on each
side the ropes which held the net in
place lying at the bottom OF the trap,
were loosened, so as to allow IL 10 De
raised up from the bottom. the TWO
boats were then pushed into the trap,
which covered a space measuring thirty
five or forty feet from side TO SIDE. Inc
net was next drawn up at the door or
raised from the bottom so as 10 force
the fish into narrow space at one side
of the trap Steadily this method pro-
ceeded until presently the nsn were
bagged in a narrow space by the net
at the side Of the boat, all visible 10 the
eye and within reach Of short-handle
dip-net. Two men held the ends or the
seine while the captain dipped the flne
fish into the boat l confess to having
had a slight futtering of excitement at
sight of so many dark fins and bright
scales glttering in the morning light,
but this was not comparable TO the nut
, terng that went on in the boat among
several hundred live fish. Except few
founders and pioneer crabs. the eaten
was of shad (clupea sapidissima) the
most delicate and best favored species
of this fish to be found on the globe.
TO rearrange the nets, and get the
tran I'm order 10 ensnare more fish for
the next mornings catch occupied but
a few minutes. The lantern was taken
down, replenshed with oil, and fastened
again on the stake, and now at the
captains signal the vessel, which had
drifted off somewhat in the wind, sails
back near to us, and a line Is heaved
aboard. which is made fast, and drawn
by this line we follow in the wake or
the swift sailor as she gldes away to-
wards the next trap. This Is soon
reached and the work OF securing the
FISH Is proceeded with as in the previous
case. with the difference, however, that
the high wind and stronger tide cause
the boats TO pitch in such fashion as 10
make the business difficult TO the ex-
perienced boatmen. The meshes in the
seine here were smaller than those OF the
first trap. and in consequence a liberal
mixture of herring were taken with the
shad.
A sail of a mile or two farther down
the bay brought us to the third trap
which, in Difference to the rougn waves
and heavy spray that dashed into the
purse-boat. 1 was induced 10 see nshed
from a distance, and so returned TO the
vessel The scene as beheld from the
deck was interesting and beautitui, the
blue waves rolling and tossing In INFINITE
profusion. and ever and anon breaking
into white foam. the purse-boats and
skiffs tossing up and down on the waves
numerous vessels with full canvas drift
ing before the wind, fiocks of wild ducks
Swimming over the water. and hundreds
of gulls floating past In light and graceful
fight.
Bv 10 o'clock the last OF the three traps
had been fished, the captain had returned
TO his post at the wheel, and the vessel
commenced TO beat back towards Cock
reIls creek. Seven hundred shad had been
taken. besides the herring (Which were
deemed almost valueless). Despite the
strong ebb-tide, the wind. which retained
much of its March force. bore us back
rapidly. and by noon our vessel was
alongside the Flora Temple, a companion
fishing craft, In front Of Tinibs's wharf.
and all hands aboard were preparing to
put the fish in barrels for shipment by
the evening steamer to Baltimore. where
many of them would doubtless be served
at breakfast next morning.
Among the incidents OF the morning
was an unlooked-for one. in which a
Reedyille rat figured to our amusement.
The rat had found a hidng-place In the
purse-boat, and when this had been
drawn far out among the waves OF the
BAY and was leaping and tossing at the
end OF q rope behind the vessel the rat
became dissatisfied with its quarters, and
Il was a novel sight to see the dexterity
and speed with which II ran over the
rope. swaying and shaking above the
waves. and got into the vessel It was
suggested by q sailor dat rat was gittin'
seasIck." an experience In which the
writer happily did not share during the
day. Z. W. d.
Scraps from Ny Garden Notebook.
written for the Dispatch.)