Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-03
ON THE RIVER FRONT
GOOD SHAD AND HERRING FISH
ING SEASON PREDICTED.
Coast Survey Launch Rebuilt - Fish
and Oyster Markets-Genera1
Matters Along River.

An old fisherman who as boy and man
spent a full half century taking fish from
the Potomac is authority for the statement
that the coming fishing season, which should
open early in next month. will be pros
porous one. The fisherman bases his pre-
dfction on the observations of years. He
says when the river has been covered by
ice for long period the fish were always
plentiful in the spring.
"Why is this?" asked The Star reporter.
81 don't know. am not well enough up
in theoretical reasonings to say why; but l
do know from my practical observations
that it Is fact. You will have all the
shad and herring you wish this spring.
The entire stock of fresh fish on sale at
the fish houses on the 18th street WhaN
this morning consisted of six small boxes
full brought up by the Norfolk line steamer
from Old Point Frozen fish were also on
SALE but the demand for all grades was
very light. Prices. however owing to the
scarcity continue high
Business was also very dull on the oyster
wharf there being but few buyers on hand
About forty barrels of oysters in the shell
and shucked were received by the oeaieFs
from Norfolk. Prices continue high ana
will remain so until Potomac river STOCK
is on the market IN quantities.
Wild ducks and other game is very scarce
and is commanding good prices.
The little coast survey launch Whlcn mas
been in service with a surveying party
aloag the creeks on the lower river, IN prep
ara ton for the issuing of new maps OF the
river counties, has been rebuilt and put IN
thorough order in this port. Inc little
craft will return to the lower river to take
up her work again as soon as the weather
win allow. Capt. Stephen Forney is in
charge of the surveying party on the r1Ver'
with headquarters at Clifton Beach.
A message from Currituck Beach, N C.'
states that wooden clothing box has come
ashore there having on 1t an address OF a
how i-
to have been lost from passing vessel
and is held waiting for claimant.
Of General Interest.
The revenue cutter Window. Capt. Ma
guire, is cruising about on Chesapeake bay
on the lookout for vessels in distress in the
heavy ice or in the gales of winter. On her
last trip the cutter was able to give AID TO
four or five vessels in distress. Mr.. Urban
Harvey, first assistant engineer of the Win
dom, who has been on sick leave, has re-
turned to duty on the cutter.
The WeemS line steamer calvert, Wnicn
was to try to reach this city through the
ice came as far as Rock Point and from
that point started on her return trip to
Baltimore. No attempt will be made to
come up the river until the ice softens.
The houseboat Gresilda, owned by Mr.
F. 8. Rawlings of this city. is lying in the
ice at the upper end of the harbor. near
the bridge, and her owner has been una bic
to get aboard her for several days. AS soon
as she can brought into a boat yard, 1t Is
stated, she will be locked to be made ready
for service on the river during the summer
months.
Advantage has been taken by the steam
and tug boat owners Of the enforced idle
ness of their vessels to do repair work
on them that would otherwise have had
to be done in the spring.
The steamer Lily and Howard and the
two-masted schooner A. HI. Quinby which
left here last week for the Yeocomico river
to load large quantity of cord wood for
the dealers here, were caught down river
and are reported frozen in at Kinsale.
The power launch Curlew one of the fleet
of pleasure craft, is berthed in the tidal
basin near the bathing beach out of dan
ger from drifting ice
The tug Edith G. Winship. the Consolida-
ton Coal Company towboat here has been
berthed at the wharf foot of X street
southwest until the freeze is over.
The cold weather has prevented the caulk-
ers from going to work the outside of
the hull of the tug James o. Carter, now
on the marine railway at Benefits boat
yard. The oyerhauling of the boiler aid en-
CINE of the tug is being pushed.