The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-06-19
sosroN.s rrALIAN rIsHnRMnN.
khsy Form a Colony Apart From the
Other Fishermen.

khsy Form a Colony Apart From the
Other Fishermen
In all the interesting SURROUNDINGS OF
T wharf. with it's scores Of fishing YES.
eals and fishermen and the hundreds If
other things that attract the attention
of the visitors. there is no spot where
they linger so long as the moOring
place of the Italian fishing feet at the
Atlantic avenue end of the south side
Of the wharf
Here the Italians form colony apart
from the other fishermen, where they
are undisturbed by others in the same
line. The water leaves this end OF the
wharf entirely at low tide. and a fish
ing schooner Of ordinary draft would
sink deep In the soft mud of the bottom
OF the basin The light boats OF the
{ ttaiian fleet. however. lie on the sur
face. their fat bottoms preventing
them from sinking.
The feet consists OF about fifty boats.
mostly Of the dory type, and nearly All
Of an age that would keep less venture
some persons than those who use them
from going out beyond the reach OF
immediate aid. They give the impress
sion OF having served out their usetul-
ness on the fishing sehooners, and been
bought at a price within the reach Cl
the purses OF their present owners
Then they pass through process OF
home patching and piecing to make
them In a manner seaworthy.
Recently some of the more prosper
Gus Of the Italian fishermen have in
vested In craft Of larger dimensions
that carry sails. but they are few IL
number and strange in appearance
with their ili-dttinE white wings that
tell OF the struggle the owner Is max
ing 70 add to the conveniences of HI
business with a purse that will no
bear a heavy depletion at one time.
The fishermen who man the dorle.
are even more interesting than the
boats In which they work. The natufa
dark complexion OF the Italian il
burned a deeper color by the sun and
the life that Is led and even the boys
who help form the crews are as darl
in color as West Indian negroes.
In the nondescript clothes they woal
they form a strange picture as they
stand about the small space allowed
them on the wharf. chatting in theh
native language, OF dickering viii
customers over the price of their catch
which Is nearly always composed o
founders of all sizes, but just at az
season is varied by fortunate haul o
rock or shore cod. with few mackere
and snake fish IL does not require tn
large baskets and strong tackle use'
on the regular fishing vessels TO get thi
fares TO the wharf. and the ordinar.
baskets used by grocers In delivering
their goods serve very well for tina
purpose.
Fortunate indeed is the fisherman
who comes back after a day or a nigh
with more than enough to fill thes
baskets three times over, and the cre'
grows in importance at once anon
1he other men OF the small fleet.
The life Of the Italians who pursu
this calling Is hard one. Like al
fishermen, he cannot choose his wealth
ar, and, unlike those OF the regula
vessels, he has no shelter from sun o
storm, and must stand in his ope
boat and tend his lines in all weathers
Nor can he afford 10 lose a trip, for tn
profit is SO small that constant worK I
necessary to get a living TO those DC
pendent on him at home. For most q
The men have homes and families.
The Italians work with the tide al
40 their fishing In lower harbor, wher
they stretch out the line OF their boat
from Governors Island almost to IN
shore Of winthrop. Low tide Is n
best fishing time for them, and day an
night the line OF dories may be gee
there from the first days OF early sprln
when the sun begins TO warm the wat
and the ash begin To rise from a.
mud, where they have lain dormal
during the winter until the col
weather forces them back 10 the low
depths and they cease TO take ban,
AS the tide rises the fishermen lea,
the nshing grounds and row up To q
city. At times they are fortunal
enough to find a towbOat or a sma
sailing craft that viii take a line Al
give them q tow up. III not the ~
men. who usually form the crew
each dory bend 10 the oars and 10
over the four or i've miles.
At the wharf there are always Gu
toners waiting for the nrst arflNa
and the fishermen bend every EFFORT
eet there 70 meet them. The prices al
fixed BY the supply on hand and q
number OF buyers. for these tishermt
sra good traders and understand q
art OF getting prices as well as !.
more prosperous further down q
wharf There Is a barter as soon
they reach the wharf and look aDou
aud the price Founders Is apt 20 n
from a cent apiece 70 hye times m
amount In one night