Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-02
AMONG THE FIsH-TRAPs.
Manner of Taking Shad and Herring
OF the Great WicOmico.
(FOr the DispatcF

The Great Wicomico river, in Northum-
berland county, has long been favorably
known as one of the best deep-water har-
bors on Chesapeake Bay. For this rea-
son it is frequented by numerous steamers
and a great variety Of sail vessels. inc
Marine railway on Cockrelps creek, ope-
rated by the Messrs. Woodruff, attracts
many vessels in need OF repairs. Tnere
are also located on this river several
large fish factories, which employ num-
Der of staunch steamers and SAL vessels,
and which between May and October an
nually convert millions of menhaden into
fish guano and OIL During this principal
fishing season, when the menhaden is
taken and the factories are at work, the
purse net is extensively used. The earlier
fishing season, when herring and shad
are chiefly caught, is the season OF trap
fishing.
/ had long felt desire to witness the
method of fishing on one of these traps,
and on the morning of April 18th IA
yorable opportunity seemed to occur to
crafty the desire. Having been called
from my comfortable bed in the hospita-
BILE home of Mr. Mort. Dodson, near the
river Shore at the early hour of half
past 4 o'clock, was few minutes later
gliding swiftly under the stars out into
the stream in a small skiff. impelled by
the arms Of my good friend. Webb, mate
of the schooner X. S. Bowen. On reach
ing the vessel and pulling up the side,
was pleasantly greeted by Captain HI.
Mcneil, the commander of the craft. The
morning air was keen and cool, and
stiff wind was blowing. so that l went at
once TO the cabin. where a No. cook
stove with a glowing fire increased the
agreeable sense of warm welcome which
j had met on deck. Having taken a seat
on the locker, / was several times in
danger of slipping off on the floor, so
much did the vessel careen, as with q
full head of sail she bent to the breeze.
AS the day broke we entered the bay,
passing near the Wicomico lighthouse
toward which l turned my gaze in vain
to catch a glimpse Of Captain Nelson.
my good friend. the vlgilant keeper OF
this station. Having rounded the buoy,
with Fleets Point behind US, and the
Cameron marshes to the right, the course
OF the vessel was down the bay. The
contemplated run in this direction was
about ten miles. and we had a fair and
steadily-rising wind. Like Allan Cum
bingham, we might have sung:
"a wet sheet and a flowing sea, ~
A wind that follows fast,
And fills the white and rustling sail
And bends the gallant mast"
Whilst we were enjoying our sailors
breakfast, the vessel sped on her way
and brought US within convenient reach
OF the traps
Preparatory to fishing the first trap the
vessel lay TO in the wind. and the purse
boat and skiff, which were In tow behind
the. vessel. were brought into use. The
captain and one man got into the purse
boat, as l did, also. Another man took
charge of the sldff. And now the two
boats. loosened from the vessel and obey
ing the oars. go leeping and tossing over
the rough water towards the trap.
This ride OF a hundred or two yards
allowed me an opportunity to glance up
and down the bay shore at long line or
fish traps. on what are considered the
best fishing grounds In the Chesapeake
waters. i was enabled, also. to take In
the plan or arrangement Of the traps.
which may be here briefly described:
Several hundred poles. stripped OF the
bark and driven firmly into the sand or
mud where the water Is from twenty
five TO forty feet deep. enter into the con-
struction Of each trap The poles ex-
tend In line across the direction In
which the tide flows. and the line is from
n hundred to two hundred yards in length.
Near the surface of the water q seine
or net of heavy twinc Is fastened TO the
poles. and tho bottom OF II 10 carried
down to the mud beneath and held In
place BY iron slnkers. Near the outer
end Of this deep-water fence arc several
heart-ehaped compartmentsa tnfousn