Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-19
ON THE RIVER FRONT
ICE ON POTOMAC RIVER NO OBJ
sTACLE TO STEAMBOATS,.
Sailing Vessels Held UP, However
Lighters Building for Harbor
Use-Other Matters.

The warm weather of yesterday softened
the ice on the river in the vicinity of this
city considerably, and from here to Fort
Washington, it is stated, the ice Is thln
and scattered In the river from lndian
Head to Maryland Point it was quite heavy
yesterday morning, and the steamer harry
Randall on her last trip found ice two or
three inches thick in Nomini creek. While
the ice does not greatly interfere with the
movements of steamers, it still blocks the
movements Of the sailing vessels ana
makes 1t unsafe for them to move except
in tow Of tug. The steamers are coming
and going from this city on their regular
schedules and have but little trouble. AS
yet the paddle wheels Of the side-wheel
boats have not been seriously damaged by
the Ice, as generally happens when they
run when the river Is frozen.
The supply of fresh fish received by the
dealers at the wharf In the twenty-four
hours ending this morning was by no
means large, while the demand was very
good. Herring from Florida were on sale
In fair quantities, but shad were very
ranged about as follows: For sheepshead.
4c to SC. per pound; jumping mullets, &c.
to 4c. per pound; salmon trout, &c. to 1Oc.
per pound. black bass. 12c. to 15c. per
rock. lac. to 15c. per pound; boiling rock.
lSc. to 25c. per pound; king mackerel, 4c.
to SC. per pound; carp, &c. to &c. per
pound; catfish. Zoe. to Doc. per bunch;
low perch, large, 30c. to 4Oc. per bunch;
yellow perch, small, 12c. to 15c per bunch.
and river mullets, 15c. to Soc. per bunch;
Spanish mackerel, lac. to 16c. per pound:
blue fish, 12c. to 15c. per pound; spot and
h0gfish. &C. per pound each. and green
pike, 1Oc per pound. The supply of oysters
in the shell on sale at the wharf market
this morning, while not very large. was
to ho demand PrcaS remain
firm, and range from 65c. to $1.25 per
bushel, according to grade.
Wild ducks and geese were ON sale this
morning in fair quantities, and there was a
fair demand at high prices.
The large lighter built at the Alexandria
shipyard for John P. Agnew & Co. of this
city is practically completed and will be
ready to launch as soon as her builders
wish to put the vessel into the water A
sister lighter of the one on the stock was
put overheard at Alexandria in the early
fall and is ready for service when her own
ers call for her.
A lighter belonging to Johnson & VIM
satt of this city, and laden with lumber
to be used in the erection Of the new Dis
trict almshouse near Shepherds, has been
lying the flats a short distance below
Shepherds wharf for the past two weeks.
The low tides and the ice have prevented
her being taken across the fats to point
on the shore near where the new building
is to be erected. Just now the lighter is
surrounded by ice and cannot be approach
ed by tug.
The new tug Leader. owned by Philip
Weaver & Sons Of Baltimore, has gone into
service and will tow on Chesapeake and its
tributaries. The new vessel is under the
command of Capt. Frank Peppla.
The naval collier Abarenda is the first
vessel of her class to have her full COM
plement Of naval officers. She sailed from
Baltimore yesterday for Culebra, P. R.,
with cargo of COAL She is commanded by
Lieut.. Commander ]. H. Rohrbach, with
Ensign Wilbur Smith. Assistant Paymaster
e. T. Stainkel, Acting Assistant Surgeon
L. H. Schwerin. Chief Boatswain E. M.
Isaacs. Gunner s. Childs. Warrant Machin-
LIST c. III. Hoseing, Boatswain ]. 8. Strakley
and Acting Boatswain R. Hamilton.
General River News.
The little power launch Bess is in Capt.
Sonny Reagan's boathouse at the foot OF
13k street to be given a general overhaul
ing and to be fitted with new engine be-
fore the opening of the next boating season.
Mr.. William Hayden has been made en-
gineer of the harbor police boat vigilant,
succeeding Jimmy Neale, who died few
days ago.
The steamer Rappahannock, the flagship
Of the Virginia oyster navy, was in Nomini
creek Tuesday looking after yiolators OF
the Virginia oyster laws.
1t is stated that plans are being prepared
for the building of two freight vessels to
be propelled by gasoline power engines for
service on the Potomac river and on Chesa-
peake bay. The boats will be owned by
parties along the lower river.
The revenue cutter William Window left
Baltimore yesterday to cruise on Chesa-
peake bay on the lookout for vessels In dis
tress by being caught in the drifting ice
The schooner Ferguson is in Nomini
creek, loaded with cord wood. and will
come up to this city as soon as Ice condi-
tio on, are safe for sailing craft.
creek. and will load a cargo of cord wood
for this city.
The schooners Sidonia Curley and C. C.
Wheeler, which started down the river
Saturday last. but were caught by the
freeze before they cleared the harbor, are
still on the arsenal, but will sail as soon
as the weather will allow.
The steamer Anne Arundel has taken her
place on the Weems line route between
this city and Baltimore. and Is in port
mas
The lighthouse tender Maple. Capt Amy.