Evening star., 1901-12-24
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT
LINE OF PILING A MENACE TO NAvI-
CATION.
Marked the Digging Lines of the
Dredgers Near Smiths Point
General Matters.

6eneral MatteTSs
When the work of deepening the channel
over the shoals about Smiths Point was
closed for the winter, several weeks ago.
the line of piling which marked the digging
lines of the dredge were left standing in
mid-channel, and it is stated by river men
that they are extremely dangerous to small
vessels. On dark nights it is almost inn
possible to see them, as they are not
marked by lights. and several narrow es-
capes are reported. 1t is stated that on her
last trip up the river. about ten days ago,
the pungy Shining Light, Capt. Keith Da-
Wis in command, missed colliding with one
of the piles by a few feet only. Had she
struck 1t she would have been badly dam
aged.
There have been but few river fish re-
ceived by the dealers at the 11th street
wharf market in the past day or two, and
the receipts of salt water fish from south
ern points are also light. The demand to-
day was good, and prices were as follows:
For white perch, &c. to 1Oc. per pound;
jumping mullets, &c. to 4c. per pound;
boiling rock, zoe. to 25c. per pound; me-
dunn rock, 15c. to tic. per pound; pan rock,
1Oc to 12c- per pound; black bass, &c. to
lOc per pound; salmon trout, Sc. per pound:
green pike, &C. to 10c per pound; small
drum, &C. per pound; winter shad 81 to
$50 per hundred; yellow perch, 10c. to
30c per bunch; catfish, 15c to 4Oc per
bunch; cells, 15c. to 25c. per bunch, and
river mullets, 10c. to 35c. per bunch.
Duck and, other kinds of game are in de-
mand for Christmas dinners, but the re-
ceipts of these delicacies are very light.
Canyasback ducks are selling today at 81
to $3.50 per pair; red heads, 81 to $3.50 per
pair; mallard, 81 per pair; blackheads, SOC.
per pair; widgeon, SOC. to 60c. per pair;
dippers, 40c. to soc. per pair; wild turkeys,
10c. to 12c. per pound: wild geese, SOC to
to oh and
81 to $3.50 per dozen. Rabbits and squirrels
are more plentiful, but are in demand, and
are selling at good prices.
Bivalves are becoming very scarce at the
11th street wharf, and unless tow of oys
ter laden boats is brought in within the
next day or two there will be none on the
market. The warmer weather of yesterday
checked any further advance in prices, and
today they are selling at about yesterdays
prices, the small oysters low as soc. per
bushel, and from that up to 81 per bushel
for the selected stock.
Vessels In and Out of Port.
The schooner A. H. Quinby is laid up at
Rock Point, Md, until the spring lumber
trade opens on the Potomac.
The Mary Francis has unloaded her cargo
Of lumber at Alexandria, and Is lying at
the wharf foot Of Wolfe street awaiting an
opportunity to go down the river.
The large four-masted schooner John w.
Lnnell has been taken to the wharf foot
of 18th street to complete the unloading Of
her cargo Of lumber. 1t is expected she
will be light by this evening, or Thursday
at the fastest.
The two-masted schooner James B. An
derson has unloaded a cargo of lumber and
is laid up at the wharf foot Of 10th street
southwest.
The barge Favorite will leave port this
evening with light oil barge in tow for
Baltimore.
The sailing scow Daniel, now loading at
Glymont, will remain at that wharf until
the ice leaves the river.
The schooner Sidonia Curley Is in the
river bound here with lumber and tug
has gone down the river and is expected
to bring her into port.
The tug William H Yerkes jr., of this
city was at Baltimore yesterday with a
tow Of oyster boats. After having her ice
plow put in place at Solomon's Island, Md,
she is expected to return to this port, and
on her way up the river will pick up any
vessels she may meet.
The tug Camilla left port vest terday even
ing and is expected to return this evening
with a tow of oyster and wood-laden craft
The steamer E. James Tull is laid up at
the wharf Of William A. Smoot & Co. until
the creeks are free from ice.
The old schooner Fannie is laid up at the
wharf Of Carter & Clark for the winter.
OF General Interest.
The ice in the river is broken up in great
masses, which are floating up and down
with the tides and unless there is decided
fall in the temperature the outlook is for
an early resumption Of navigation.
The sailing vessels are still laid up, but
all the steamers are making their regular
trips, except on the ferry line, the Column
bia being the only boat on the route.
The Weems line steamer Westmoreland
came into port yesterday about ten hours
late, having been detained by the ice. The
Randall line steamer Wakefield arrived last
night on time with a heavy cargo of Christ
mas packages from river points.
Much of the soft coal used here since the
closing Of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
comes to this city by way of Shepherds
Landing, between this city and Alexandra.
Yesterday several barges laden with coal
were brought to this city from Shepherds
The steamboat companies have ample sup
plies on their wharves.
Oysters are so scarce in the creeks along
the lower river, where vessels for this city
usually load, that those seeking cargoes
have to go to bay points for supplies.
All the dredges and tongers on the river
have stopped work and gone home for the
Christmas holidays.
The tugs James o. Carter and Minerva
have been fitted with their ice plows in
preparation for their winter work on the
river.
The Christmas trade on the river this
year has been very heavy and the en-
ployes Of the steamboat companies have
been working over hours for several days
past Large throngs meet all the incoming
steamers on the lookout for Christmas
boxes from friends down the river.
The little sloop yacht Lotes. of this city,
which went ashore on Lower Cedar Point
bar about week ago, is still aground, but
is in good condition. 1t is stated an effort
to float her will be made shortly.
A hundred or more Of the employees OF
the naval smokeless powder magazine at
Indian Head, Md, came up on the river
steamers yesterday and today to spend
Christmas with their families.
During the enforced lay-up of the ferry
steamer Belle Haven, in consequence OF the
heavy Ice, she will be given an overhauling
and put in readiness for the resumption Of
traffic.
The American Ice Company presented to
each Of its employees at the wharf ice
houses, a large fat turkey for his Christ
mas dinner.
Each EmplOye Gets az.
The Christmas gift made by the Capital