Evening star., 1899-03-07
REVIVAL AT FISHTOWN
Business on the Wharf Recove,s From the
February Frees.
Present Storm Not Regarded as
Damaging to the Trade-The
Prices Moderate.

After the disappearance of the ice and
snow from the river following the February
storm there was a revival of business in
"Fishtown" and on the oyster wharf. From
the snow-blockaded streets the scene had
changed to one of activity, but todays
storm has again affected the market. Scores
of men who three weeks ago were huddled
about the fires in the little houses have
since been busily engaged handling fish and
oysters. On account of the severe weather
the fish season will probably be a little
later than usual, but the men who expect to
engage in the business are living in aniici-
patton of a good season. The present storm,
the fishermen think, will not greatly inter-
fere
The business both down the river and at
the wharf is not what II was years ago at
for the run of shad and herring are no.
nearly SO extensive. Fishermen also md
that the money paid for the of the
shores down the river does not amount 10
so much as 1t did years ago. While most
of those who are going to use big seines
this year have not yet started down the
river, there are some seines already in the
water, and few shad as well as quite
number of herring have been caught.
During recent years the number of the
small seines used throughout the entire year
has largely increased, and besides these
the trap nets in the river extend from the
District line to the mouth of the river. 1t
is because of the number of trap nets and
small seines in operation that the number
of big seines has so greatly decreased. The
small seines require only from four to eight
men, and they are easily moved from place
to place and operated wherever it is
thought the most profitable fish can be
caught.
AS already stated, these nets are in opera
ton during the winter as well as in the
summer, and at present their owners are
sending to the local market large quanti-
ring are scarce, southern fish of these va
rieties are plentiful, and the "Fishtown"
dealers are making good sales.
"Fairy Landing" Abandoned.
Fairy Landing" which was for num-
ber Of years one of the most important
fishing shores. will not be worked this sea-
son. This, 1t is stated, is on account of the
number of trap nets in the river in that
vicinity. 1t is thought the principal big
nets will not be put in the water for about
two weeks yet unless there is a sudden in
fiuX of shad and herring.
On the oyster wharf the scene OF activity
is even greater than in ''Fishtown, for
the oyster market has fully recovered from
the effects of the February freeze. and
bivalves are plentiful as ever. There is
not however, a great demand for oysters.
Today the prices ranged from 40 cents to
81 bushel, according to size and quality.
While some of the stock at the wharf show
ed the effects of the weather. oystermen de-
clared that some of them were far better
than they Were before the storm.
Mr.. James H. Birch, whose experience
dates back to 1855, told Star reporter that
the recent spell of freezing weather had
not hurt the oysters. Some of them, he
said would naturally freeze and be de-
stroyed. but he thought next years supply
would be just as big as IL there had been
no bad weather. The oysters coming up
the river now, he said, are in splendid con-
dition. During the severe weather, he said,
Na<,nH -orxr a,pd Pnl frln for
stock, but at no time was he compelled to
increase the price.
Present Storm Not Damaging.
The present snow storm, he thinks, will
not seriously affect the oyster traffic, al
though it will keep some boats down the
river longer than they would have remain
ed had the weather continued favorable.