Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-14

| for dressing arrives. his season begins
| the first Of January ana continues until
March.
| The Spear fishery is situated on the
south bank Of the stream. just below the
pumping station of the Water Co u
consists OF large shed. the north part
of which Is used for dressing the fish,
while the remainder constitutes store
room. Running across the stream Il a
series OF small piers connected by
framework which during the catching
season holds the wire screens, or wiers,
which prevent the passage or the eels
down the stream. when the season Is
over these wiers are removed allowing
free passage OF fish Of any kind.
Near the dressing house there Is an
opening several feet wide. guarded on the
sides by wire screen. and which tapers
down TO a width of about one foot. In
this opening is a kind Of spout foot
square. which connects with large car
capable Of holding many hundreds Of
cells When In position the car lies be-
tween two piers, but Is taken out of
water during the winter The spout is SO
ARRANGED that II plays up and down with
the rise and fall of water.
The trap itself is Of iron and is placed
in the mouth of the spout above referred
to- 1t consists OF two openings about
three inches square, In a frame OF iron.
one above the other, each of which holds
a number Of iron fingers. fastened at the
upper end upon Il rod and swinging in
ward so that when an eel takes 4 no.
ton that he wants to go in that way he
can readily do 50. the fingers lift and
allow the passage OF his body Once In
side. there Is no getting out. As soon as
toward the mouth of the trap. and as
ing, wrisglng mass Of ,edom of all
sizes. from the small ones Of a foot or
50 in length 10 some whose size we care
not To mention for fear that credence
might not be given to the statement. But
really. cells have been taken there over
four feet in length and which weighed
over eight pounds.
When the trap becomes filled the eels
are baled out and taken down to the ears.
Of which there are two. sunk IN the
water just above the dam AT the site of
the old Richards paper mill
The catching season b.gins in August
The wiers are then placed in position.
and II Is an interesting sight during the
season 10 visit the traps. The eels come
down the stream In large numbers. and
coming to the wiers. nose around until
they find the opening of the trap. and
thinking-if ecls can ihink-,hat they
have found way out of their dilemma.
in they go. The average catch during
the season Is between four and five tons.
though sometimes it exceeds these fig
ures. The largest catch recorded was
many years ago. and figured up six tons
and DO pounds. II high water prevails
during the catching season the run is
larger. but IL the reverse be the case.
the cells hang back in the ponds and do
not come down.
After the cells are caught they are KEEP,
in the cars until the first of January,
when the dressing and shipment begins
They are then hauled to the dressing
week. On arriving they are placed in
two tanks, being at the same time
sprinkled with lime to rid them of the
slime with which they are covered.
The work of dressing requires two men
and is done on long bench in one end
Of the room, AT the. right end of the
bench the eels are piled, ready for the
knife. The fish is first taken in hand by
Mr.. Peacock. 1t is placed on it's back.
the body extending from him. and is held
in position by an iron strap. which passes
the bench where the operators foot
gives the required pinch TO hold the cells
head in position. The belly is then slit
with "A knife. the inwards removed. and
after severing the backbone near the
head, the fish is passed over to the assis- |
tani., who places its head in another coll
lar back up. this time. grasps the tail
with one hand. while with the other, |
armed with pair of pliers he strips the |
skin of in a twinkling. The eels are |
then packed in barrel and are ready !
for shipment. Sugar barrels are used |
and Il barrel full of eels weighs about 800 |
pounds. The skins and other refuse are |
taken away by local parties
The work of dressing is done Saturdays |
throughout the season. and the cells are |
shipped Mondays The entire catch is |
shipped to New York. and has been since |
the business was established The bulk |
of them are eaten by the foreign element |
especially during Lent. While there is |
much in the appearance of an eel that is |
against him. he is in reality better than |
he looks. and when properly treated by |
the cook he constitutes "A morSel much |
sweeter than some of his finny associates |