Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-21
ON THE RIVER FRONT
HARBoR POLICE RoAT vIGILANT
BEING ovERHAULED.
Naval Yacht Oneida In Service-Black
Bass Biting Freely-Moving
Freight Carriers.

tt harbor police boat Vigilant In re-
ceiving new dress Of paint, the members
of the crew of the steamer being busily en-
ployed in removing all the old paint and
varnish from her upper works. AS soon as
this is completed the pilot house, engine
room and cabins will be reprinted and
handsomely grained The hull will also re-
ceive attention and will be painted down to
the water line. The work is being done
while the tug Is in service, and she 10 In
readiness to respond to call for duty at any
time. Harbormaster Sutton keeps the Wig
liant in the best Of order, and she receives
a new dress of fresh paint once or twice
each year.
The demand for all varieties of fresh fish
Is but fair at the wholesale market on the
18th street wharf. Prices remain firm and
high. Crabs are scarce and in fair demand,
at from 81 to $2.45 per barrel The supply
of oysters on sale has been very light.
Prices range from 80 to IS cents per bushel
The vessel masters state that as yet oysters
are scarce on the dredging grounds on the
lower Potomac, and it Is difficult to get a
cargo. Most of the oysters coming to mar
ket are small but are of fine flavor.
The United States naval yacht Oneida,
which was recently overhauled and repaint-
ed at the navy yard here, has been brought
around to berth at the new wharf OF the
naval battalion. District of Columbia Ma
Oneida is in as good condition as a vessel
can be put, and presents a handsome ap-
pearance.
The three-masted schooner G. M. Sprague
is reported to be lying at Somerset Beach
wharf taking aboard g. large cargo of oak
railway ties for Boston or other northern
points. This will make the fourth or fifth
large cargo of ties that has gone north from
the Potomac in the past ten days or two
weeks.
Black Bass Fishing.
Black bass have been biting very freely at
minnows and live bait just now about the
wharves and from the sea wall about the
Potomac Park. Bass are also being caught
in Four-mile run. The fish are not large,
seldom over a pound in weight.
The schooner c. c. Wheeler was launched
from the marine railway at the Alexandra
shipyard Friday, and q small oyster pungy
was hauled out in her place for calkting and
repair work to her hull. The schooner Nc
CURE is at the shipyard, and will be the
next vessel to go upon the railway
The schooner Gilman Dove, which was
hauled out at Benefits boatyard for re-
pair work to her hull, has been completed
and launched, and has sailed for a river
point to load
lighter built for Capt VIM. Neitzey, and
will have it ready for launching in a few
days.
Matters of General Interest.
Reed birds have become quite scarce in
the river marshes, and the hunters are hav-
ing but poor success. About Mattawoman
and Chickamuxen creeks. however, the
birds are reported more plentiful. The pres
ent northwest winds are expected to bring
ducks on the river in good numbers.
The receipts of fruit, except apples, have
been very light from down-river sources so
far this season. Apples are being brought
up by the river steamers in fair quantities,
consigned to the commission dealers here.
The United States fish commission steam
er Fish Hawk, Capt. James Smith COM
handing, which is employed in fishery work
on the northern coast of the United States,
has arrived in port and is at the navy yard.
The Fish Hawk is next to the largest vessel
in the fish commission service