Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-07
ON THE RIVER FRONT
OWNERS OF PLEASURE CRAFT
PREPARING FOR SEASON.
Oyster Laden Boats Stopped by Ice1'
Many Visitors About Harbor-
Other Matters.

The ice has entirely disappeared. from the
harbor and yesterday only open water
could be seen, the only ice in sight being a
few solitary cakes floating up and down tho
harbor with the wind and currents The
owners of the hundred more pleasure
crafts here, which have been laid up since
last October and November at the different
boat houses are arranging to put their
boats in order for the boating season on the
river. which will open early in next month.
The boats are to be cleaned up and painted
before going into the water and the outlook
for busy boating season on the Potomac
is encouraging. Several new craft will be
added TO the local fleet this spring and two
of them, the large power launch of Mr..
Gus Forsberg and the auxiliary sloop of
Mr.. Goldsborough, are building here These
new power launches will. II is stated, come
from building plants in the north.
Ihere was fair demand for all grades
of fish at the wholesale fish market on the
wharf this morning. but the supply on
hand was quite small and the bulk of 1t
came from the south by way of Norfolk.
Some few fish from the fisheries on Chesa-
peake bay were on sale and commanded
good prices.
On the oyster wharf the demand was but
fair, and the supply of Norfolks on sale
were ample to meet the demand. Vessels
with Potomac stock aboard are expected
in port by the end of the week, unless the
Ice cOn0lt10nS below A1exan0T1a become
worse. Prices range from Sl.30 to S1.5O per
gallon shucked. and from $40 to Sl.40 per
bushel in the shell. Hard crabs and CLAIMS
are also on sale.
A fleet of five oyster laden vessels sailed
from the Wicomico river to Occoquan bay
a day or two ago in effort to reach this
city, but the drifting ice caught them or
Occoquan and forced them to go back 10
upper Machodoc creek for shelter.
Reports coming from the lower river
show that the ice has broken up in the
oyster dredging grounds and that the boats
are again able to take oysters from the
Potomac beds.
The steamship Arkadia, which brought
the Porto Rican battalion to this city 10
take part in the inaugural parade, bertheo
at the new wharf on the harbor side or the
Washington barracks park. The vessel is a
private ship and is not. as generally sup
posed, owned by the United States govern
ment. She was chartered by the War De-
partment to bring the island soldiers TO this
country.
General River News.
The fleet of fifteen or more oyster running
boats which lying at the 18th street
wharf will leave for the lower river as
soon as the ice will allow, and will take
aboard cargoes of the bivalves for the mar
ket here.
Mr.. Harry Renger, owner of the wharf
at Clifton Beach, Md, reports that the Ice
had not greatly damaged the wharf when
he left home, about a week ago. 1t was
piled high about the structure, however,
and it is expected to do damage.
Hundreds of visitors particularly from
the west, have visited the river front In the
past day two and have inspected the
steamboats, lying at the wharves Many OF
them had never been aboard steamboat
| before, and the river men took pleasure in
| showing the visitors about the boats and
explaining to them, the best they could,
how they were worked.
The schooners Sidonia Curley and A. II.
IN nv nit Inn h1s- afaGs for elf
are reported in harbor in the lower river
| waiting an opportunity to come up to this
city as soon as the ice will allow.
A British schooner of 3D. tons burden
| has been chartered to bring a cargo of
| asphalt from Havana to this city. The
charter of a schooner to bring a cargo OF
| 800 tons of asphalt from Port of Spain,
| Island of Trinidad, to this city is also re-
ported
The schooner Grace G. Bennett, which
wintered here. will sail in day or two
| for Newbern, n. c., to take aboard a cargo
of lumber
The steamer Harry Randall went down to
Alexandria today to take aboard a large
cargo of groceries and supplies for wharves
along the lower river. She will sail, as has
been stated. tomorrow morning on her first
trip to the lower river for six weeks. Capt.
Bailey Reed will be in command of the
steamer.
Capt. Frank Taylor, master of the tug
NJ Mitchell Davis of this city, which is
under charter at Newport News, is homo
Oh Nislt WINE bdpt- ldyIoT is away,
Capt. Tally Fowkes Will have command of
the tug.
Mr.. Phylander Genge, who has been act
ing as mate of the steamer Estelle Ram
dali for several weeks past. has been re-
lieved from duty aboard that steamer and
has taken charge of the deck of the steam
Ell Harry Randall
Mr.. Chapman Sly first officer of the
steamer Harry Randall, will join his steam
er at Rock Point. Nd, on her first trip
down the Potomac.
Capt. Frank V KNIT who has been in
command of the tug James o. Carter dur
ing the winter, has been relieved by Capt.
charge of the tug d. NJ. Key.
Capt VIM. Luckett will pilot the United
States training ship Prairie to the mouth
of the river when the vessel sails from ALI
eXandria.