Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-16
ON THE RIVER FRONT
CURRENT OBTAINING VESSELS
NOT MYSTERIOUS.
Torpedo Boat Talbot Sails-Preparing
for Opening Of Oyster Season
Other Matters.

1t IL stated that the mysterious current
that has kept vessels bound south along
the Atlantic coast delayed for the past two
weeks is not as much mystery as II
seemed to be at first. The solution given
by an old seaman is that the long spell OF
southeasterly winds has caused the Gulf
stream to vary somewhat In Its course ana
it's edge is now close to the coast This Is
the current the detained mariners have
been unable to account for. When the
shift of wind comes from the northwaro
and eastward the current will disappear.
and the fleet of delayed vessels will De apie
to continue its journey. AT last re-
ports this shift in the wind had not come
and the fleet is still becalmed off the coast
north of Cape Hatteras.
The demand for fresh fish OF ali KINGS dt
the wholesale fish market on the 18th street
wharf was excellent this morning. but the
supply was quite small and consisted, as
usual. mainly of trout and other saltwater
fish. Prices are ranging higher In conse-
quence of the increased demand trout TINS
morning selling at about S. to 81 per bar
rel.
Grabs are also in fair demand at $1.5O to
81 per barrel, according to the grade OF
stock wanted. The supply Is coming from
river sources and is not large. Water
melons are becoming rather scarce at the
y,
tinues good. They are selling at - to 70
per hundred for culls and from that price
up to SIS to SIS per hundred for better
stock. Melons from the lower Potomac are
now on sale.
The United States torpedo boat Talbot,
which came here for service as the judges
boat in the boat races Saturday evening"
left port yesterday evening on her way to
the Norfolk navy yard. The Talbot Is one
of the smallest of the torpedo boat fleet of
the navy.
Preparations are being made along the
lower river for the opening of the oyster
part of next month. There has not been
an oyster-laden vessel at the wharf here
for two months. but within the next three
weeks they will begin to arrive.
The large barge used by the Baltimore
and Ohio railway in It's car transfer service
between Alexandria and Shepherd Landing,
repair at Baltimore ship yard. but will re-
turn to Alexandria before the end of the
week.
Millers dredging machine Is employed in
around the portion of the Eastern Branch
flats, abreast of the St Elizabeth Asylum
property, that it is proposed to raise above
the high water level. considerable por-
ton of the flats along the edge of the
channel bank has been raised with the mud
pumped up in deepening the channel. but
many acres lying close to the southern
shore remain to be reclaimed 1t is about |
the earthen wall.
The Reclaimed Flats.
The land recently reclaimed from the
river along the Eastern Branch and above |
the Long bridge Is a mass of verdure. |
Three months ago where these green COW |
cred fields now exist were wide expanses Of
shoal water, and 1t seemed that almost as |
soon the dredges ceased pumping the |
liquid mud upon the land the plants began |
ito grow and spread
The schooner John r. p Moore, completed |
the unloading of cargo of lumber here |
yesterday morning and sailed. On her way |
down the river she ran ashore on the mud |
flats on the western side of the channel. a |
short distance below Manns fertilizer fac |
tory. The vessel remained aground until an |
early hour this morning when the rising |
tide floated her into deeper water.
The steam launch Joe Blackburn, which |
was hauled out on the marine railway at |
Benefits boatyard for general repair work |
and to have her hull caulked, was put |
overheard yesterday. |
The three-masted schooner Quillian has |
completed repairs at the Alexandria ship |
yard and was yesterday afternoon launched |
from the marine railway. The steam barge |
E. James Tull was hauled out on the ma |
rine railway as soon as the Quillian was |
launched to have a condenser placed in |
position aboard her.
AS soon as the schooner w. H. Mcclure |
completes the unloading Of her cargo Of |
lumDer sne Will go 10 the Alexan0rFd snip
yard to be hauled out for examination Of |
hull and for caulking and such repair work |
as may be necessary.
Mate Phylander George OF the steamer |
Harry Randall who has been absent from |
duty in consequence of the serious illness |
of his wife, returned to the steamer yes |
terday.
Capt. James Barker Of the steamer Harry |
Randall, on the lower Potomac route, and |
Capt Bailey Reed of the steamer T. v. |
Arrowsmith, on the Colonial Beach excur- |
sion route, have exchanged commands for |
a trip or two
The three-masted schooner Norman, laden |
with a cargo of about 25,O0O railway ties, |
completed loading at Alexandria yesterday
and will sail today. in tow Of the tug Ca |
meia far the mouth Of the river, |
bound for Boston.
The schooner Ballard has arrived at AL
exandria with cargo of cord wood aboard
The schooner E. G. Irwin, laden with fer
tilizer material from Baltimore, has ar
rived at Alexandria.
The schooner w. P. Snow, laden with
lumber, is lying in the stream off the 10th
street wharf. awaiting opportunity to
berth and unload.
The Hattie Mary Evans has arrived at
Alexandria with a full cargo of grain from
Piscataway creek for dealers.
The schooner Edw. E. Briry, which ar
rived yesterday, was brought into port in
which picked up the vessel at the capes of
the Chesape
The schooner Sidney Jones, laden with
cord wood from the lower river has ar
rived for the dealers and the schooner
Ella Pride came into port yesterday with
a cargo of watermelons from the eastern
6.iore.
Col. Davis Ordered Here.
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