The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-10-18
NIGHT HAK1NG OFF cR1EHAvEN.

Without doubt many readers of Shoot
ing and Fishing remembera story which
appeared in it some two years ago, tell
ing of halibut fishing at Matinicus, in
which Peter figured prominently. The
boat used at that time was a yawl own
ed by Peter. She had been decked over,
and while she was good, seaWOrthy
boat, yet she was too small to meet all
requirements. In pleasant weather and
smooth seas she was good enough, but
when caught out in the fierce gales
which i'll winter often sweep down on
those islands with amazing fury, the
question of being able to make the tiny
harbor of Criehaven became doubtful.
The Importance of doing this may bet
ter be understood when it is explained
that to be driven past the island meant
to be carried out to sea, and that, too,
in small, open boat, with the icy blasts
whirling the snow about in binding
sheets. That these are not merely
fancied dangers is proved by the stories
of narrow escapes current among those
hardy people, and many families have
been left to mourn loved ones who sail
ed away in the morning only to find
their death far out in the Atlantic. In
view of these facts, therefore, Peter
decided to build a larger boat, one that
would be able to hold up against the
gales and shove her nose to windWard
i'll the teeth of the storms and the seas.
She was to be sloop rugged, thirty feet
over ALL and with generous beam.
Having decided these points, Peter
devoted all his energies to the construc-
ton of the new craft. Few realize
what such an undertaking means to a
Tlotn
must be met and overcome, privationS
verance maintained until the desired
end is reached. All through the long
winter he toiled scantily clothed and
insutficiently fed, that every cent he
could scrape together might be invest
ed in such articles as his ingenuity
could not devise; ducks for sails, stand
ing rigging, paint, etc.
Before actually commencing work
Peter had carefully studied the matter
and compared his ideas with the varl-
Gus local craft, selecting their best
points-sOmething ~ no means to be
despised, for, besides their well-known
seaworthy qualities, MatinicuS boats
are well able to show clean pairs of
heels to many handsomer craft-and
these lines, as far as was practicable, he
combined with the cutter model, the
result being a decided departure from
the regulation model which, until then
had been religiously adhered to by the
fishermen of the island.
Many of the older fishermen shook
their heads over the boat, prophesying
anything but good results, while Others
more liberal in their ideas, as they let
their eyes follow along her clean run
and shapely bow, were disposed to at
least reserve their judgment. But it
was a proud and happy day for Peter
when the stout horses were hitched ON,
and, with the help Of the entire com
munity, the boat was slowly dragged
from the spruce grove, in the shelter of
which 1t had been built, and launched
in the smooth waters of the harbor
Eondly Peter dWelt upon her graceful
m0oring, and he mentally enumerated
gave promise: qualities that were after
ward proved in trial, for she was stiff,
seaWorthy, speedy, and well adapted to
the requirements OF the fishing and
lobster business. Moreover her deep
draft made her an unusually good boat
for maeherel fishing, for she drifted
slowly and the throW-bait lreld and
Whirled over and over in the eddy to
leeWard i'll a manner to delight fisher
mans heart.
For several weeks schools of mack
erel had been playing about the small
islands to the westward, but at the
time OF my arrival for my summer out
ing they had just put in an appearance
at CIielayen and Matinicus, and al
though large numbers were being taken
i'll the traps, as yet they had refused to
touch jig. The fishermen, however,
felt confident they would soon take the
hook, and as soon as | made my appear
ance Peter began planning numerous
fishing cruises. His sloop. immaculate
III her fresh white paint and new sails,
was riding at her mooring, and the
temptation to take cruise in her was
too strong to resist, SO we went to work
putting Oh board bedding, provisions a
good supply of bait and fishing gear,
and on the following afternoon we got
under way and ran out by the eastern
harbor point, bound for The Rock, four
miles to the eastward
Our crew consisted of Peter and my
self, a boy to cook and do odd jobs, and
Peters partner, Samuel LIE Blanc, a
young Frenchman, whose high-sound-
ing name had proved too much for Crie-
haveners, Sc that i'll their plain vocabr-
larry this son of Gaul was known simp-
ly as Sammy White. Peter and Sammy,
however, were a well-mated pair, and
the most obliging, good natured fellows
| have ever met, and skillful in sailing
boat.
Before fair southwest breeze we
quickly ran through the passage be-
tween Pudding island and Criehaven,
and once clear of the flaws that came
over the islands found the wind held
steadier, so that we were soon east of
The Rock, and heaving to, drifted by
the point to try the mackerel. Al
though we had laid in a generous sup
ply of throw-bait for this purpose and
cast it out generously, it availed us
little. With the exception of harbor
pollock, which followed us in schools,
and of which we caught a hundred, only
one mackerel rewarded our efforts, but
that one was all immense fellow, IS
inches long, that was fortunate enough
to take on my line. At sunset we ran
around the tiny island and anchored off
the western side, while the boy, who
had started a fire in the tiny galley
stove, soon had our only mackerel siz-
cling IN the frying pan, and the fish,
with some food we had brought with
us. and hot tea, furnished an ample