The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-21

are Weakening their vitality for the
coming fruit, the herring and shad
leave the salty ocean and seek the fresh
waters of the Susquehanna, in which
TO spawn or breed. Before the first
school passes the Capes the proprietor
of the fish packing establishment has
made ready for the seasons work by
getting his floating towns in ship
shape or perhaps it would be more ac-.
curate to say, in town ship-shape. The
float proper is one hundred and eighty
feet long by sixty, built of two layers
Of logs on pontoons. From this an
apron or inclined plane, forty feet wide,
is built out on three sides forming an
artificial shore for the dragging up of
the seine. AS early as the middle of
March the doors are unnailed and the
buildings, some eight or ten, are pre-
pared for use. They form two rows
facing upon the narrow avenue which
runs lengthwise of the float. Rooms
for cooking, eating and sleeping, tool
houses and engine rooms make up the
main street; "Night-OwTs avenue
the men call it, in commemoration of
the late hours they keep in finishing up
large haul.
When the seine is tarred and hung.
the engines in running order, and the
IN its incongruity, have arrived from
various quarters, the miniature town,
with smoke curling from it's chimneys,
leaves its winter mooring and is towed
down stream. All the fishing is done
on the shoal or shallow side of the
rats and when the spot is reached,
which by right of occupancy belongs
10 the proprietor four huge piles each
Weighing one ton. and shod with
pointed iron, which pass perpendicu-
lariy through wells or holes in the raft,
are unpinned. They drop, their weight
SINKING them deep into the bed of the
river and the float, left free at the
wells to rise and fall with the tide, is
securely anchored. The outer edge of
uhe apron is loosed and allowed to sink
OF lts own weight, if old and water
ooaked; If new, it is weighted with
sraVel until it rests upon the bottom.
a break water is built some twenty
I've Ieet from the float on the up
uedIn side, forming little harbor for
.ne landing of the tug which tows the
SSooW-loads of fish to the packing
"hen all is ready for the first haul, a
medVy boat is manned by twenty
.healher beaten men, ready to lay out
49, seine and the engines, one at either
erI VI the float, wait for orders. The
~ VI the heavy rope which lies coiled
So 'he seine-boat is made fast to the
az capstan the tug catches the tow
me from the bow and the order "Give
.lay puts every oar in stroke. OFF
GO looking like huge spiders on
mn, 'lsle web, as the brazil line pays
hoo. over the roller at the stern of the
&c a, ana heavy load II U.s. The boat
We. Ivy eight feet in length and the
10y, seine weighing from three to four
sos' nils half of it. In the forward
Son are the men facing the crews
I'M ana the captain who steers
M, aHldships. When nearly a mile
,ne seine starts over the roller un-
tbe lug without hitch or tangle from
tbs Uneven looking mass. Fastened to
va oelhe' one hundred and twenty
80 apart are quarter posts. and as
sach slides into the water the captain
~ 'S 10 the lookout on the deck of
VIZ VIZ Jug that he may know just how
bs,'' sections are overheard. They
o. headed home before the last post
ioo.. over and the other brazil line fol-
pe, crew Is well practiced. and they
-, 'ppard the float quickly. The line
q, ''h end is passed around a cap
q lhe engine starts and the seine
I'm, '"h IN while the boats crew en-
r., " smoke In the bunk room until
t.., whistle brings all hands on the
r..,t' h. Twenty men az either end,
v.. Gather shoulder braces. put their
s,.' against the seine. The eapstans
r,. i The quarter lines. which are
fr.. '' 10 the quarter posts one after
,, N'i for without the help of steam
t N'ff N pulling through the wa
N.t thousand feet ~ eefuk would
'. colossal
49,. "hple process moves like clock
49,. class u well organized and
4, Hbprers working under q RyNeu
a., planned that the captain can ~
~ moment turn 10 chat With visitors