Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-06
sARDME FISHING.
How the Industry is Carried on-Many
Factories in Nantes.


How the Industry is Carried on-Many
Factories in Nantes.
From the New rk5Tribune.
The present great distress among the sar-
dine fisher folk of Brittany draws attention
to the sardine industry In the provinces OF
Vendee and Brittany, which offers many
points Of interest. Nantes is the principal
center Of the industry, although La Ro-
chells and other, seaports closely rival the
Brittany metropolis today as ceneers Of
sardine fishing.
The sardine manufa cturers of Nantes own
over hundred factories scattered along the
coast between Les Stables d'Olonne, St
Giles and Belle Isle. Like cod, sardines
are season fish, and make their appearance
along the Brittany coast at the beginning
of June. Their favorite abiding places are
at great depths among marine plants two
or three miles from the shore. The Brit
tany fishermen make use OF the same nets
to capture sardines as for cod, with the ex-
ception that the nets have smaller open
ings. These nets are called "manets."
Every year, In June thousands of fishing
smacks start out from Nantes These boats
are Of light build and only fit for calm
sea. In case Of a storm they often have
barely time to take shelter in the nearest
harbor. The average length of these craft
is from twenty-five to thirty feet They are
fitted with number Of large oars, the use
of which Is indispensable to manage the
boats on their return journey. AS a general
rule the owners of the boats act as their
captains, but of late years many factory
owners have fitted out fishing fleets of their
own. The crew of each vessel consists OF
from seven to ten men, only three OF whom
are professional sanors-the captain, his
mate and one sailor boy. The others are
peasants. who take advantage Of the farm
ers' dull season to earn few extra sous.
The start for the days fishing takes place
every morning at low tide. AS soon as
sardine shoal has been signaled the nets,
many Of which are over 5000 feet long. are
thrown overheard. The nets have been pre-
viously blackened so as not to brighten the
fish. At the same time bait is scattered
around the boat the favorite bait is called
rogue" and is made Of fish roe. AS soon
as the net is filled it is drawn into the boat,
emptied and thrown out again. AS sardines
spoil easily the days catch is taken to port
in the evening at high tide. After the boats
have landed the "remandeuses,' as the sar-
dine women are termed seize the nets,
stretch them along the beach and mend
them, II necessary Meanwhile the boat
captains sell their fish, either to middlemen
or to the factory owners direct. When the
sale has been effected the "sardine women"
in the employ of the factories flock to the
harbor and proceed to clean the fish. This
scene Is a typical one, and has often been
made subject for the painters brush. In
Vic CVHNciSdtioH uttWecH tueSc StuIuy HSA-
wives and fishermen the relative merits of
the days catch are discussed and comment
ed on.
When the boats have been emptied and
the fish cleaned the fishermen proceed to
the nearest cabaret, where the days pay
is settled. After, the cost of bait and the
days food has been deducted the remaining
sum is so divided that the captain has one
half, the mate quarter and the rest Of the
crew the remainder. When the days fish
ing has been good the profits are consider
able. but on a bad day the men are often
The factories at Nantes each employ on
an average $50 women, twenty children and
from fifteen to twenty men, these last
named being mostly tinsmiths. The women
employees receive small pay-3 or cents an
hour. ff