Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-22
ON THE RIVER FRONT
FISHING SHORES PREPARING TO
HAUL WINTER SEINES.
Channel Through Flats Wanted
Warmer Weather Melting Ice Slowly
About the Harbor.

Preparations for winter fishing have been
given a sudden impetus by the warmer
weather of the past two days and the pros
pect that the river will shortly be free of
ice Yesterday Mr. Frank Price sent a
portion of his crew to the Plum Tree Cut
shore in Occoquan bay to overhaul nets and
boats and to put the quarters for the fish
ermen in order for occupancy. The hauling
of sene under the direction of Capt. AL.
McCuen, will be started as soon as posi-
BILE Winter seine will also be hauled at
the Gums and one or two of the other
fishing shores along the river below Deco
guam. The spring fishing for shad and
herring will find all the shores in opera
ton, and at several of them the fish will be
cut and packed.
There was a slight increase in the re-
ceiptS of fresh fish from southern waters by
the dealers at the 18th street wharf fish
houses this morning and frozen fish were also
on sale. The demand was good and prices,
which range at about the usual figures, are
as follows: For salmon trout, to DC. per
pound; white perch, 10 to 121ac. per pound;
jumping mullets, 2 to &c. per pound; bass,
North Carolina, 10 to 13c. per pound;
sheepshead, to &c. per pound; green pike,
9 to Zoe. per pound; frozen trout, to &c.
per pound; frozen smelts. 10c. per pound,
and frozen butterfish, to &C. per pound.
No fish from the Potomac are on sale and
will not be until the river is clear of ice.
The supply of oysters in the shell for the
Washington market continues to come
mainly from the lower portion of Chesa-
peake bay. This morning the Norfolk line
steamer brought up fifty-fiye barrels. About
500 gallons of shucked oysters were also re-
ceiVed by the dealers here. Prices remain
at high figures.
The steamboat and tugboat owners who
replaced the galvanized iron on the hulls
of their boats during the freeze had much
nr1h In rntt; h. T11
rine railways could not be used and it was
necessary either to run the vessels into
shoal docks, where the falling tide would
expose their hulls, or list them until the
broken metal was exposed and the work.
men could get at it. This latter expedient
had to be adopted with the little steamer
Estelle Randall. The metal on her hull just
below the water line had been torn off by
the ice, and in order to get at the break
she was listed until her guards on one side
were under water, and even then the men
had to work with their hands in the icy
flood.
General News of the Port.
The merchants of Alexandria formerly
had big trade with the part of the District
of Columbia and Maryland opposite Alex
andria, when small steam ferry boat
made frequent trips to and fro. The shoal-
ing of the channel through the flats put a
stop to the ferry, but an effort is to be
made to have Congress authorize the dredg
ing of the channel. The ferry will then be
esta blished, whereby it is expected the trade
will be brought back to the Virginia city.
There have been but few wild ducks and
geese on the Potomac this season, and the
hunters of such game have had but little
success. Ordinarily when ice covers the
creeks the ducks are driven to the open
spots in the river to feed, but so far this
season but few have been seen, and these
only in scattering punches.
The warm weather and light rains of the
past forty-eight hours has softened the ice
on the river somewhat on the top, but I'M
derneath it is still hard as ever A con-
tinuation of the warmer weather for day
or two longer will cause the ice to decay,
and it will then interfere but little with the
movements of the steamers Unless freeZ-
ing weather comes it is expected there will
be general resumption of navigation.
Work is being pushed on the large steam
launch Runaway belonging to Joseph Moore
of Alexandria, and it is understood she will
be put upon a route between this city and
Alexandria in a few weeks for the conven-
fence of the workmen at the Washington
navy yard and others.
The handsome steam yacht Ed. King.
which has been lying at the 10th street
wharf of the American Ice Company
throughout the winter, has for Its figure
head the carved figure of an old Morse king.
The figure is about six feet long. AT one
time nearly every vessel had figurehead at
its bow, but they are now a rarity.
The tugs towing the light Standard Oil
Company barges. bound from this city to
Baltimore, succeeded, it is stated, in getting
through the ice and out of the river yester-
day.
The tug James o. Carter, as soon as the
marine railway here can be worked, will
haul out for an overhauling Of her hull
and for caulking.
The big marine railway at Alexandria Is
being put in order for busy season, to
begin as soon as the ice leaves the river
and the railway can be worked. Several
large vessels have arranged to be hauled
out as soon as possible for repair work
to their hulls