Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-27
ON THE RIVER FRONT
WEATHER CONDITIONS FAVOR
ABLE FOR THICK FOES.
Pier for New Fire Boat - Maryland
Oyster Police Vigilant-
River Happenings.

another thick fog covered the river yes
terday afternoon and last night, making it
a trying time for steamboat masters who
were out in it with their steamers. As
business is very light on the river at this
season of the year. owing to the ice and
rev vessels are moving up or down the
river. there Is now but little danger of col
lfsion when the fog blanket settles on the
water. Yesterday the air being warmer
than the water, the fog could be seen rising
In mist from the surface of the river
and getting thicker and thicker until It
formed a cloud through which it was i'm
possible to make out objects any distance
away. The weather conditions of the past
few days have been particularly favorable
for the formation OF fogs, but the river
men expect the coming cold weather will
put an end to their troubles for few days.
There was but little demand for fresh
fish at the wholesale fish market on the
18th street wharf this morning, and the
supply of fish on hand was light. By the
end OF the week the dealers are looking
for a return of normal conditions in the
market.
On the oyster wharf the supply of oys-
ters In the she'll was quite small, but was
more than ample to meet the light after
Christmas demand Prices remain about
60 cents per bushel for the smaller oysters
and ranging up to 81 per bushel for the
finer grades.
stated. a new building will be erected on the
site Of the old burned ice house on the 10th
street wharf of the American Ice Company.
The new building will be used 1t Is stated.
as a feed mill in preparing the food con.
sumed by the large herd of horses of the Ice
company.
1t is stated that the wharf formerly used
by the Glymont route steamer, located be-
tween the morgue wharf and the harbor
police boat wharf, Is to be used as pier
for the new District fire boat. The rebuild
ing Of the pier to suit the requirements OF
its new usage, will be started shortly. Be-
fore the new coat can use the dock the slip
will have to be dredged and made severai
feet deeper than 1t is now.
1t Is stated that the steamer Kent. which
has been laid up at Alexandria for several
months past, will be fitted with new
boiler, and be given a general overhauling
in the spring to make her available for
service once more on one OF the river frelght
routes.
The Maryland oyster police boat Bessie
Jones, aided by occasional visits from the
steamers Of the Maryland police fleet, Is
keeping a vigilant watch over the oyster
taking fleet along the lower Potomac, and
the vigilance of the officers has put stop
to much of the illegal dredging and taking
of small oysters in Maryland waters.
The hull of the old naval steam boat
Phlox. which is lying at Deanes boat yard
at Alexandria, will, it is stated, be torn up
in the early spring to obtain the copper and
other metal with which her ttmbers are
fastened together.
General River Notes.
The steamer launch James Douglas. be-
longing to the Potomac Dredging Company,
which has been at Deane's boat yard at
Alexandria being overhauled and fitted
with an ice plough to make her fit for
service in light ice, Is ready, 1T is stated.
to go into service.
The large power launch. Alert, Is lying
in her house at the 9Th street wharf I'M
dergoing overhauling Of her engine. A
part of the machine is at the works of its
builders in the north and, 1t is stated. 1t
will be several weeks before the craft will
be ready for service again.
The river line steamboat wharyes are
assuming their usual after-Christmas air
of dizziness. The crowds that have throng-
ed them for a week past looking for Christ
mas packages have disappeared, but there
are still quite a number of packages at the
wharves awaiting claimants
The schooner Beulah Land is reported on
her way from Philadelphia to this city, with
a cargo of plaster.
The steamer Wakefield yesterday made
trip to Glymont in place OF the steamer
Estelle Randall.
The schooner Sidonia Curley Is in port
discharging cargo of lumber from Vlr-
ginia lumber port for the dealers.
A large Philadelphia barge, laden with
cord wood for this city, is reported lying in
Curriomen bay loaded and waiting Ice
conditions favorable to coming up to this
city.
The schooner C. C. Wheeler is reported on
the James river loading a cargo OF lum-
Der for this city.
The British schooner King of Avon sail
ed from New Brunswick with a cargo for
this city about a month or six weeks ago.
She was caught in storm on the coast
and badly damaged. and put in a Bermuda
mort for repairs Since that time no fur.
ther report has been had Of her here.