Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-15
ON THE RIVER FRONT
FISHING SHORE OWNERS PREPAR-
ING FOR NEXT SEASON.
Lighter for Philadelphia Club Com
pleted-Tug Jackson in Service
Personal and General

The owners of the various fishing shores
along the river have begun the prelimi-
nary work looking to the opening of the
fishing season early in the coming spring.
The fishermen say that the early freezing
of the river is considered a good sign of
successful fishing season, and if that is
SO the signs point to very successful
season. The big seines several of them
over three miles in length, are being over
hauled and made strong and substantial
again and boats are being put in order for
the work.
An idea of the magnitude of the fishing
operations on the river can be had, when
it is known that in the first two weeks Of
April of this year, when the season had just
opened, one firm on the fish wharf handled
over 100000 herring, besides quantities of
shad and other fish.
The freezing of the river has forced most
of the fishermen to take up their nets to
save them from being torn up by the ice
and as consequence there were but few
river-caught fish on sale at the wholesale
fish market on the 18th street wharf this
morning. The bulk of the stock on sale
came from southern sources, and the de-
mand for the fish was fair. There is also
light demand for good frozen stock.
The supply of oysters in the shell on sale
as there have been but very few arrivals of
oyster-laden boats during the past week,
and the demand for the bivalves is good.
Wild ducks and geese from southern
sources are on sale in limited quantities and
when the stock is good the demand is good.
The large lighter building at Benefits
marine railway at the foot of 18th street
for the Philadelphia Fishing and Cunning
club Is completed and will be launched as
soon as the weather will allow. The lighter
is to be used as hull for a house boat to
be used by the club on the Delaware river.
Six small pleasure craft belonging to par
ueS mere are hauled out lat the boat yard
of Capt. Sonny Reagan foot OF 18th street
southwest for the winters and several other
pleasure boats are at the yard ready to be
hauled out
Mr.. Norman F. Moore of Alexandria, the
purchaser of the steam launah Doc Reh.
took possession of the boat yesterday and
has her at Moore's machine shop dock for
a trial OF her machinerysao determine what
repair work Is necessary to fit her for
service on the river
The officers of the coast survey schooner
Matchless now lying off Glymont, expect to
be ordered to Norfolk in day or two.
general repairs. 1t was at first thought the
vessel would be sent to Baltimore.
General River News.
The steamer E. James Tull is lying at
Shoots wharf. at Alexandria, out of serv-
ice until the ice leaves the river and the
steamer can travel without danger of in
jury.
The tug James Jackson. which was hauled
out on the marine railway at the Alexan-
dria ship yard for repair work to her hull
and to be fitted with q new propeller wheel.
has been launched and is again ready for
service. The Jackson viii be used for tow
ing sand-laden scows on the river.
Mr.. Richard Webster, formerly chief en-
gineer of the ferry steamer George WASH
ington, has been appointed engineer OF the
United States army tug Gibbon and entered
upon the discharge Of his duty Saturday
last.
The tug Joe Lane, belonging to one of the
sand and gravel digging companies here.
which Is at the Alexandria ship yard, will
not be rebuilt until next spring. The boat
viii then be put In thorough order for acc
tive service. towing sand and gravel-laden
scows on the river. s.s.s s.sss s.
{ The Giymont route steamer 8 yesterday
carried to Fort Hunt over a hundred packs
ages OF sugar, canned goods and other CONF