Evening star., 1901-09-03
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT
CHANGE Of DREDGES ON WORK AT
SMITHS POINT SHOALS.
Steamer Pentz Takes Up Regular Mail
Service-Fish and Watermelon
Quotations.

The big sucker dredge Alabama, which
has been at work deepening the water over
the Mattawoman and Smiths Point shoals,
has stopped work there and will be taken
to Reedy Island, in Delaware bay, for
service there The Alabama will be towed
from the Potomac to Hampton Roads by
Spedden's new tug, Neptune. There the
big sea-going tug Samson will take her in
tow by the outside route for the Delaware.
The work on the Smiths Point shoals will
be carried to completion by the big dredge
Pugh, from Norfolk. The Neptune left
Smiths Point with the Alabama yester-
day.
The River View excursion season closed
) esterday, and this morning the steamer
Samuel J. Pentz, which has been running
excursions during the summer began reg
ular trips on the mail route between this
city and Glymont, Nd, in place of the
steamer Estelle Randall. stopping at Alex
andria. Fort Foote, River View, Fort
Washington, Fort Hunt, Bryant's Point,
Marshall Hail. Gunston and Glymont daily
except Sunday. The PentZ will remain
upon the route until the Randall is ready
for service, some time next month. Capt.
Harry 8. Randall is in command of the
Pentz with VIM A. Moore as engineer and
George ]. Stafford as purser
Fish and Watermelons.
There was fair supply Of salt water fish
on hand on the nth street oyster wharf
this morning, the dealers there having re-
ceived about 40 packages from Norfolk.
About six barrels of river fish were also
received. The market this morning was
fairly well attended and prices were: For
Spanish mackerel, 10 to 1218c. per pound;
pan rock, to &C. per pound; boiling rock,
1914 to 15c per pound; white perch, 15c.
per pound: large trout, to 4c. per pound;
croaker. Be. per pound: bluefish, 3 to 4c.
per pound; founders. &c. per pound; gray
trout 81 to 8 per barrel; spot, 81 per bar
rel; butter IS per barrel, or to &c. per
pound crabs, 81 to $1.50 per barrel; por-
gies, 15c. to 2Oc. each; drum, 25c to bOc
each: carp. 25c. each, and catfish and eels,
zoe. to Soc. per bunch.
The watermelon market at the 11th street
oyster wharf was much more brisk yester-
day than 1t has been for several days, and
large number of melons were sold, put az az
low figures There were only about $4,000
melons at the wharf and one vessel, with
1900 aboard. came into port this morning.
In consequence Of the demand prices show
a slight advance. selected melons seiiing at
$40 to SIS per hundred; primes. "a to IS per
hundred, and culls, 81 to 81 per hundred.
A large four-masted schooner. named
after Mr. VIM H. Yerkes of the American
Thomaston, Me-, from the yard of Dunn &
Elliott Saturday. The new vessel has
gross tonnage of I, .95 and is 222 feet In
length.
Smiths Point Buoy Partly SUNK.
The pilots of the incoming steamers re-
port tho can buoy of Smiths Point, at
the mouth of the Potomac river. partially
sunken. Only about a foot Of the can Is
showing above the water. The matter will
be brought to the attention OF the United
States light house authorities.
The pungy VIM. N. Mcdaniel. which has
been hauled out on the marine railway at
Alexandria. was put overheard yesterday.
Il vi~v4~.
thorough overhauling In preparation for the
oyster running trade. which Will now begin
The tug Eva Belle Cain, which has been
laid up at the Alexandria sMpyard for sew
eral months is now being painted and dec
Grated and will soon go into service on
the river.
The large barge H. A. Barry is lying In
Mattawoman creek, near Grinders wharf.
loading q large cargo OF oak and chest
nut railway ties for the Philadelphia mar
ket.
Seufferle has been overhauled and is now
lying at the wharf foot of Prince street,
Alexandria, for the winter.
Other shipping News.
The schooner American Patriot Is hauled
out at the Alexandria marine railway yard
for general overhauling of her hull. All
the unsound wood in her hull Is being re-
moved and the boat is being placed in
thorough order.
The large tug e. v. McCauley, the tender
of the dredge Pugh. at work on the Smiths
Point shoals In the river, came into port
yesterday evening to have some minor re-
pair work done.
The rebuilding OF the dredge Fannie at
Cumberland's boatyard will be completed
In few days.
The longboat Lottie Carter Is on the ma
rine railway at Benefits boatyard. at the
foot OF 11th street, receiving q general
overhauling. The Carter viii be out OF
service for several days
LarRe-mouth black bass Of large size are
now being caught with hook and line from
the wharves here. Yesterday the fishernen