The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-26
ENORMOUS HAULS OF FISH.
HBRRINGs USED As FERTILIZER IN
VIRGINIA THIS YEAR.
Fiahetrnen who hesitate to Draw Thcir Nots
81 Account or the Great NInaaoA or Fish-A
Paradise for sporIsmen-lITc In ma Isolated
Part or VirHInln A Traditional Terror.


Part or virsInin "A Traditional Terror.
wAsnISoTuN, June 1s.-"I thought I had
seen big fishing In my time" said n Western
man whit has spent the spring months in Nir.
Rinia, but II was all amateur work and Child's
play compared with the fishing on Chesapeake
Bay and the lower Potomac. Few strangers, at
any rate Western men, can have the faintcst
idea Of what good fishing is until they take in
this bay and It's tide waters. ! thought l had
seen large catches OF Whitofsh in Lake Michi.
gan, but they could not he compared with the
hauls l have seen lately. The whitensh is n
noble Ash. It Is to Chicago what the shod Is to
New York, but shad fishing nonr New York
and fishing for tho whitcnsh in the great lakes
cannot compare with any kind of fishing here.
my first idea of big catches was formed
twenty years ago at Geneva Lake, which Is
now n summer resort for Chicago people. II Is
in Wisconsin, and is known best ms the site OF
the astronomical observatory that contains tho
great Yerkcs telescope. In this little body OF
water in the first ten days OF every June there is
n run Of cisco. This Ia fsh that resembles the
herring, does not grow largo, and Is regarded
as n delicacy. For n long time It was supposed
to be confined, in tic Northwest, to Lake Suro-
rior and Geneva Lake, but now 1t is found in tho
small lake at Oconomowoc. Its presence In the
Geneva water supported the theory OF a sub
tcrranean river from Lake Suporior-n river
that formerly swept, wide and strong, the full
length OF Illinois to tho Ohio. The iden was that
the cisco came by this underground channel in
June and then returned, when not caught; for
it is almost impossible to find a cisco Mt any
other time. His fancy for dark places was
supposed to indicate his underground habit.
During his season. however, the fish docs not
try to conceal him self. The farmers for miles
around leave their agricultural pursuits for
days OF profitable sport. They back their wRg-
ons into the lake and with hand nets scoop up
the fish. The cisco does not exactly climb up
tho wheels. but he makes no trouble about he.
ing caught. The line fishermen who are At all
sportive find him too easy.
'As there is n ready, even eager market in
Chicago and In Milwaukee for the fish, the am
phibious farmer makes n good thing Of il, besides
having the fun. Tho grangers of that region
are given TO side speculations, anyhow, being
impatient of the beaten paths to wealth. A
few years ago Wisconsin River pearls found a
place In the jewel market. and incredible finds
were reported wherever the gentle mussel re-
posed. A great rush was made for the streams
of the State. On the banks OF every river and
creek the farmers encamped with their fami-
lies and not a mussel smell escaped. An occa-
sional perfect pearl was found, but as a whole
it was a waste of effort, and 1t eliminated the
mussel. But cisco fishing pays for a few days.
luo sptCluCNo IL u phuScsoIOn VI "hkoub
loaded with the shining fish is impressive, but 1t
is tame in comparison with the display made
by a single haul Of q Chesapeake or Potomac
seine in the herring season. The shad here is
larger, firmer, and more abundant than any
where else. This year. especially, the catch of
every kind Of fish has been great. After the
shipments are made to the larger markets and
the mall fish dealers have filled their sailboats.
one can buy q hugo roe shad for 10 cents at any
fishery along the river or bay. But it is the
countless tons of herring that astound the In
land stranger. Many OF the fishermen refused
to draw their seincs this season, fearing the
enormous mass of fish would tear them to
strings. Those who managed to scoop up boat
loads of herring did not know what to do with
them. The near markets were glutted. Finally
the fish were disposed of In a way to break the
heart OF a man who thought about the poor
that needed them as food. The large, fresh.
firm heIrdTi M -, sli it,, e ri nf Ike * tO FURNISHED nrarI ido sbil liver
els, to be used to f~ertilize the red soil of Nir'
ginia. The owners Of the few large estates
great holes, intending to spread the mass over
the fields in the autumn. The small farmers,
including the negroes who own their homes
and a few acres, ploughed them into the soil. 1t
is said this will enrich the land more than any
of the fertilizers of commerce. There has never
been any lack Of oyster shells for the soil, as the
OILY cost is in hauling them from the shore.
nous pTh n1 sn1seE ena Is p s%SPF!ie@ n sIle oo ofth by s shs fn and
herring caught at u single haul, but quite as
much by the length of the seines. 4 seine a mile
long is by no means unusual. The man OF
s~portive tendencies has his blood bounding in
the spring months, for the qnnck of the canvas
Vernon % the son every bay and inlet has its
blinds, from which the duck hunter may knock
over as many birds as his weary dogs can gather
in. Every farmer is also n sportsman. and has
his hreech-loader. his boat, and his deGQy ducks,
ing Of mere crops is often suspended because OF
the quacks that mingle with the %pctulant cries
Of the gull and the croak Of the buzzard. There
Is more profit In the sale Of ducks than In follow
ing the plough. Many of the Industrious ne
roos have their sailboats; in which they go down
to the bay fisheries, where they load up with
shad, herring. and terrapin for the town market
This spring duck, meat was cheaper than the
shad and herring, an almost numberless variety
or other fishes abound In these waters. They
include rockfsh, bass, perch, sturgeon, sheeps'
Bters, and other things unknown to the West
ern man. The Potomac and the smaller fresh
water streams are well stocked with many fine
varieties. Tho Potomac fishermen, however,
think a grave mistake was made when tho Ger,
alleged to be nearly as good as brook trout. hut
nobody along the river will touch il i he can
ent eater. fattening on the best of other fishes
but soft and tiabby and far from tine eating
ton Is paid to its culture rs to that of the
s~peckled beauties of the brooks; Washing
ton people fancy, %crawhsh, for which they pay q
penny apiece. There IL an extensive variety Of
%terrapin. from the huge soft. shell TO the small
highly decorated, hinged land turtle. The lat
ter is a curiosity to the inlander Of the prairles
lis exclusive feature . cling its hinge apparatus
The forward half OF the under case can be
raised or lowered, having n hinge; When he
chooses to be exclusive and To shut out thu
sight and sounds of the world, the turtle raiset
this part and shuts head and legs in completely
lie can sleep or mediate without fear of dis
/, turhancc. besides aquatic game, the sports
man may knock over quail, grouse, .wilc
j pigeons. and sometimes geese and turkeys
though on many OF the estates all shooting i
prohibited.
> There cannot be two opinions about Tho
' delights of n spring in that part of NirginiC
which borders the Potomac. lesdes the game
r the natural scenery Is as nearly ideal as II !
possible TO find II In this country. A countr!
, roadside In the Old dominion in the spring |
, Incompatible. But IA summer in the same re-
Eion must be another thing. When it scemc'
! TO be my fate to spend the heated term near h
national capital, | was promised a GOBLIN
breeze on the river bank for every day. Hr
: after contracting for II furnished house nen
Mount Vernon. | discovered there were prohibi
tiOns. one must not go into the dark, cntiCin
woods. because of wood ticks. or ON grass
II spots on the sands of the river shore, bccaua
: Of Cligros, or near the sllrubbew bccaus" q
= snakes, or sit out of doors in the evening hc
4 cause Of malaria, or have carpets on the floor
V because of,fGas, Cor keep CdiblrS in the house bI