Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-09
ON THE RIVER FRONT
HUNTERS AFTER DUCKS DESPITE
THE HEAVY ICE.
Pushing Work on Army Tug Gibbon-
Sand Scows Go Adrift-Gen-
eral News.

While there has been a good deal Of ice
on the river during the cold snap and many
small boats have been tied up, the big
boats, such as the Norfolk and Washington
line, have not lost a trip or even time. In
fact, the open channel in such times is due
to the fact that the big boats are kept
running.
flock of twenty or thirty canvas-back
ducks were seen by the officers Of the
steamer Estelle Randall yesterday evening
on some open water abreast of Broad creek,
and just as the steamer passed the birds
two hunters shot at them, and about half
the flock were seen to fall. A flock of ff-
teen or more wild geese were seen on the
river between this city and Alexandria yes
terday by the officers of the steamer Ran
dali.
Business was extremely dull on the fish
wharf this morning, the receipts of fresh
fish by the dealers being extremely small,
and the demand even smaller than the sup
ply. Prices ranged at about the figures
quoted yesterday.
On the oyster wharf business was also
very dull. the few oysters on hand in YES
sells being held at high figures by the
dealers. The receipts of oysters from Nor
folk are very light, and unless vessels sue.
coed in reaching port an oyster famine is
looked for.
Some few ducks of various kinds were on
sale at the 18th street wharf this morning,
at high prices.
The large house boat used as the head
quarters of the Capital Yacht Club is berth
ed for the winter in the shQal waters of the
tidal basin, not far from where the basin
connects with the river The boat house
is to be overhaued and made ready for the
next boating season.
The low tides of the past two or three
days have been very favorable to the work.
men employed in patching the holes in the
sides of the army tug Gibbon, and they
have been enabled to keep almost continu-
ouSy at the work. Capt. Todd expects to
have his boat out and in service again
Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
Of General Interest.
Two of the large sand-carrying scows be-
longing to the Smoot Sand Company of this
city, which were lying inshore near Fort
Hunt, went adrift in the ice a few days
ago and were carried across the river and
landed in Swan creek. between River View
and Fort Washington. 1t is stated the
scows are but little damaged by their trip
through the ice.
The drifting ice has torn the masts out
of the sunken schooner American Patriot,
lying off River View. and one of them has
been carried up the river about four miles
and laid ashore near Fort Foote wharf.
The other mast is attached to the sub
iiiSI SSu NesSSl ny pOItlODS OI the SlanulnR
rigging. 1t is announced that as soon as the
river opens the United States army en-
gineers office will take steps to have the
vessel removed from the channel.
The Weems line steamer Calvert did not
arrive here last night and it is stated that
she made no effort to come up the Potomac
on account of the ice. Nearly all the trib-
utaries of the Chesapeake are blocked with
heavy ice, and few of the steamer lines out
of Baltimore have their boats running
Capt. Geoghegan, formerly master of the
steamers of the Weems line is again this
winter in command of the ice boat Latrobe
employed in breaking the ice about Balti-
more harbor and along the Patapsco river
to allow vessels to get in and out.
Ten or more light oyster boats are tied up
at the wharf here waiting an opportunity
TO go down the river to the oyster grounds
to load Three or four loaded oyster boats
are reported lying in Mattawoman creek
awaiting a tug to bring them to market
here.
Old rivermen are looking for Shift of the
wind TO the northwest shortly and a return
of cold and ice-makng weather.