Evening star., 1899-03-17
THE FISHING SEASON
Work of Catching Shad and Herring
is Begun.
RENEWAL OF ACTIVITY IN FISHTOWN
Observations of an Old Operator
on Present Prospects.
SOME PROFITABLE SHORES

SOME PROFITABLE SHORES
| The spring fishing season has now fairly
| opened and most of the big nets are in
| the water. "Fishtown," on the river front.
shows plainly the result of the work that
| is being done at the big shores Men who
had SO much idle time during the cold
| weather, when oysters were scarce are
now busly engaged in the fish traffic For
| several weeks shad and herring will claim
| most of their attention.
| These fish are now coming from the
| shores on the lower Potomac and soon they
will be more plentiful. The industry has
! given work to several hundred persons
| down the river, in addition to the many who
are in the business in this city. Not only
| are the fish sold in the markets by the
| regular dealers, but scores of hucksters
| sell them about the streets from wagons
and still others carry them about, exposing
| them to sale from door to door Even the
small boys who hang about the wharf pick
| up the small fish and dispose of them There
| are always more or less small fish in the
boats that bring the shad and herring to
! FlshtoWn' from the fishing shores and
these fish are usually given away 1t fire.
quently happens that there are more boys
about the wharf than there are fish of this
variety, and the boys have IA lively time
scrambling for the limited supply
II is not an unusual sight to see a score
OF more wagons strung along Water street
early in the morning or late in the af.ar-
noon, awaiting the arrival of the boats
from the fishing shores. At this season Of
the year, however, when the weather IS
cool enough to preserve the fish for long
h.
hours. Later on effort will be mada to
| nave them brought uD during the part CT
the day that the atmosphere is coolest
Most or the product is sold at auction On
tne Wharf, but many shipments are made
direct to local dealers. During the shad and
herring season some other varieties of fish
are scarce and others bring in small prices.
so that the fishermen depend largely upon
the variety mentioned during this season
winch closes early In the summer
Shad and Herring Scarce.
Both shad and herring are now very
scarce said an old fisherman to a Star
reporter in 'Fishtown' this morning
ears ago these We're extremely plentiful
and fishermen found spring fishing profit
able business. Now, however, it is entirely
different. This is shown in the limited
| number OF shores occupied and the prices
paid Not more than one-half the old fish
ing shores are now in operation"
Iiio iisIeIHidn explained that the
prices that are now being paid are nothing
to what they We're years ago. In 1870 he
said, the White House fishery privilege
sold for 100, while at present it is not even
bid for. Fairy Landing" which was noted
as one of the finest shores on the river he
said, has also been abandoned. This shore
is owned by Mr.. VIM. Neitzey who gave
it up because of the scarcity of fish Many
other places that paid we'll during former
years have either been abandoned or are
being fshed at about one-fffth their former
rental.
In Nearby Waters.
Most of the shad and herring caught for
this market later in the season are taken
from the water within fifty-ive miles of the
city. 'Caywood's," on the Virginia side. is
about that distance away. The shore re-
quires about 300 fathams of seine and en-
ploys about fifteen men. Within few
miles Of this shore is what is known as
'PaSsap patansa," with a force about the
size of that employed at "Caywoods,"
which Mr.. Robert Adams is operating this
season. windmill Point" situated at the
mouth of Potomac creek, is being operated
by MIR. James Ewing. 1t requires about
LOCO fathoms of seine and two steam engines
are used in hauling it. Mr.. Joseph Gibson
is conducting the fishing at the Gums
this season. This ground is also large
one, requiring 1000 fathoms of seine and
the services of about forty men and eight
horses. 1t is situated short distance above
Aqua creek.
Those mentioned are known as winter
shores, for the reason that they open as
soon as the winter is over and the nets
can be got in readiness. Early in the sea-
son rock fish, with fair percentage of big
white perch, constitute the principal
catches. The early shad and herring are
also taken in by these nets.
While these shores are already in opera-
ton, there are others that will not open
for about week or ten days, by which
time 1t is expected shad and herring will
be plentiful. One of these is known as
Walters, because 1t is owned and operated
by man of that name. He uses about
1000 fathoms of Seine and forty men and
eight horses. Ten miles this side of Wal
ler's is Freestone Point, owned by
the Fairfax estate and operated by
Ballenger & Gibson. During past years
this was one of the best fisheries on the
river, bringing an annual rental of much
as $3.50. Six miles north of this point
and on the same side of the river is the
well-known STONY Point where the
largest seine on the Potomac is used. Two
men are employed by Mr.. Neitzey. who has
had the use of the shore for fully twenty
years.
On Maryland Side.
On the Maryland side of the river the
fishing places are not so numerous. What
is known as "Chapman's Point is only a
few miles down the river This shore is
nOteQ IOr ltS immense cdtcneS Oh Wnat are
known as late or glut herring. Three hun
dred fathoms Of seine are used Mr.. Gale
of Baltimore owns and conducts the busi-
ness there. Bar Landing is operated by
Mr.. Thomas Lindsey, with 400 fathoms of
netting and twenty-five men and four
horses. Monkeys Point" which is in the
vicinity Of Fort Washington, is being
fished this season by Mr.. Heron. He uses
only about 300 fathoms of seine. Many
successful catches of shad and herring have
been made at this shore, and at present
the United States fish commission has the
use of 1t. 1t Is about this place that SO
many shad eggs are obtained for propagat-
ing purposes. What is called ''Tent Land
ing" Is a short distance this side of River
View. This is the fishing shore nearest
to the city, and it is managed by the
Messrs. Roams.
The foregoing are about all the principal
fishing shores being worked this season.
There are, however. a few smaller seines,
and, as already stated a large number of
traps and stake nets in the river from the
District line to the mouth of the stream.