The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-02
SHRIMPING CAMPS.
They Are Hidden Away on Shores Of
Louisiana Bayous.
Nearly 1000 People, Chiefly Chinese, Are
Engaged In the Industry.

New Orleans, Aug. 2.-.Hidden away
Jefferson parish, and scattered about
the margins OF Grand Lake, Little
Lake, and the musically-named Che
neire Caminada, is a strange colony,
the bare existence OF which is prac-
tically unknown. 1t numbers, all told.
at least 2000 people, three-fourths of
whom are Chinese and the rest Manila
men and unclassifiable mongrels. They
live In brushwood camps near the edge
ot the water; their habits are incredi-
Dly simple and semi-savage, and their
business Is the catching and drying OF
shrimp.
ms singular settlement recently came
no surface in some litigation on the
calendar OF the local courts over the
ownership of "A piece OF adjacent prop
erty, but the industry has been quietly
pursued from time out OF mind in al
most unbroken isolation. Its produce is
never seen In the New Orleans market,
out Is shipped direct TO San Francisco
anu New York. and consumed entirely
py the Chinese. At certain seasons the
Shrimps are caught by the millions in
rude hand nets. and spread In 9ayers in
platforms built over the surface OF the
water The hot sun shrivels them up
and they become desfccated. When
thoroughly dry they are brown and
Drittle, and have sweet nutty flavor
that is far from disagreeabie. In this
condrtfon they are packed loosely in
barrels holding about $50 pounds each,
ana sent TO native merchants In Mott
ana Doyers streets in New York and
TO the Famous ChiIat town of Frisco. At
ooth places they are in lively demand
and are eaten either as condiments.
without further preparation, or with
"a curry or rice. Even American bar
Darians find them very good.
The scene of the shrimping camp Is
so strangely Oriental that Ii Is hard for
a visitor TO realize that he is in the
neighborhood of big American city
AS matter of fact, the Industry is
imported. and exactly the same pro-
cess OF fishing and drying is pursued on
vast scale In China. Almost all the
colonists come from families of shrimp
ers, and when they have sufficient
money return to the Flowery Kingdom
and send back relatives TO take their
places. There are thousands of com
mon Chinese fans in the stores of New
orleans bearing pictures OF shrimp
fishers and dryers. and no doubt many
a purchaser has been puzzled over the
queer daubs, and wondered what il all
meant. The same thing precisely could
be witnessed by making a trip to the
outlying bayous of Grand Lake.
Secluded as they have been. the liti-
CATION already referred TO Is not the
first event that has brought the Chin
ese shrimpers TO the attention of New
Orleans officials. About IL years ago a
tremendous row was raised at the post
office over some unknown matter that
was tainting the mails with peculiar
and villainous odor. The trail being as
evident as the aura OF a soap foundry,
the government sleuths were not great
~ overworked in following ii 10 GER
tain mysterious hieroglyphics. The
bundles contained dried shrimps. pre-
pared after special and odoriferous
formula, and sent as tidbits to friends
OF the colony. Needless to say. they
were promptly confiscated under the
rules OF the postal service but the
mailing went on. TO a wild chorus OF
public protest. One day the superin-
tendent was y ssng his window just as
a Chinaman dropped tabooed parcel
IN the slot. The official was man Of
action. Grabbing the package he
hurled IL instantly at the retreating
Celestial, who turned just in time TO
stop 1t with hrs nose. The Chinamar
emitted a howl OF anguish and from
that day to this not single shrimp has
ever perfumei the mails.