Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-01
ON THE RIVER FRONT
MANY STRANGE VESSELS IN SER
VICE ON POTOMAC.
New Engine for Launch Eola - Tug
Irene Chartered to Tow
Ice Vessels.

There are at this time more vessels,
strangers to the Potomac, employed In gen.
eral freghting to and from this city than
there have been for many years past. Most
of these vessels had temporary charters
to tow fish here In the early spring, and
when their contracts expired, instead of
going away to other ports, as usual, for
work. they remained on the Potomac and
have Joined the local fleet in running lum-
Der and wood cargoes from river points
here. 1t is estimated that twenty or thirty
vessels have Joined the local fleet since the
close of the shad and herring fishing sea-
son. There is big demand for vessels on
the Potomac, and cargoeS to and from this
city are easy to find. Many of the larger
lumber carriers that have come into port
here in the past ten days are also strangers
here.
In spite of the warmer weather the de-
mand for fresh fish of all kinds was excel
lent this morning, there being quite a num-
Der of buyers on hand in the early hours
of the morning. Trout, butter fish and
croakers constituted the bulk of the stock
on hand. Prices are firm. The bulk of
the fish on sale came from the Atlantic
coast fisheries and there were but few
river fish on the market.
Crabs. both hard and soft were very
scarce. few. If any, being on sale this morn
Ing and these only at high prices.
CLANS and oysters were on sale at Zoe
per hundred for the former and SOC to 81
per bushel for the latter. The demand for
them was very light
The work of installingSa new three-horse-
power Globe engine in the power launch
Eola has been completed and the launch
was put overheard yesterday. The new
engine is expected to give the little craft
good speed on the pleasure cruises her own
ers Will take aboard her during the sum-
mer.
The United States army steamer Pom
tonler the tender to the engineers battal-
ion stationed at Washington barracks. was
out for short trip on the river yesterday
evening, running down the river to Fort
Foote, Md. and return
The big ocean-going tug Tormenter, be-
longing to the American Towing Company
OF Baltimore, came into port yesterday
afternoon with two large barges laden with
coal in tow The tug is one of the largest
in service on the Atlantic coast. and is
paying her second visit to this city.
General News Of the Port.
The steamer Northumberland has re-
sumed her place upon the route between
this city and landings on the lower river
and Baltimore, relieving the steamer Mid
dlesex. which is to be painted and over
hauled and made ready for summer travel
The repaintfng and overhauing of the
steamer Estelle Randall has been practi-
cally completed, and the steamer will take
| her place on the Glymont route shortly
The Baltimore tug Irene has been char
tered by the American Ice Company to tow
ice-laden barges from Havre de Grace, Md,
to this city during the summer months
She is now on her way to this city with two
ice-laden barges in tow They have aboard
over 2,OO0 tons of ice for local consump-
ton.
Capt Frank Taylor, who has been at
Newport News for several months with his
| tug. the M. Mitchell Davis engaged in tow
| ing mud-laden scows for the dredges at
work there, has returned home to look
after the interests of the Taylor tugboat
| fleet for the next several months
Capt Jerry Posey has resigned as pilot
aboard the United States fish commission
yacht Phalarope, and has been made mate
| of the steamer T. V. Arrowsmith on the
Colonial Beach excursion route.
| Capt r. l.. Hart of the Weems line, who
has been Ill at his home in Fredericksburg
has recovered sufficiently to return to duty
on the Weems steamers.
The bugeye II. A. Wise Is loading a cargo
| of bricks and building material at Alex
andria for down-river resort. The build
! ing material will be used In the erection of
new cottages.
! The schooner Albert Nichol, laden with