The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-01

"a deep in the picturesque little hsroor
,b,le the Thomas tied up at the wharf and
Tho commander went ashore in search OF
Magistrate.
Tbe man OF law came at the end OF about
two hours-a tall, spare, old farmer. yell
low with ague and exposure, specialized,
orizzled and grave. His court was promptly
oroanized in the cabin of the Thomas.
,rbile shabby natives crowded the deck and
neered down the companonway at the spec
iscle of Justice in session.
One Of the prisoners was fined $40 and
costa The others, having shown that they
had made an attempt to comply Win the
law, we're merely forbidden to catch any
more oysters until their licenses should
arrive
Theae cases disposed Of the police boat
steamed out TO the Potomac again and mace
for the Virginia side The seallke flood OF
the great river. eighteen miles across be-
tween the capes that define its mouth, was
stilled to a vast mirror. over which TIC
dredging feet barely moved with all sails
set.
Every form OF craft known TO the dredg-
ing industry was there-stout, deep sea
pungies almost at a standstil beneath
a scarcely perceptible breeze; clean lined
bugeves with their white wings spread
abroad in the vain search for wind; light and
impudent skipia the vllgarians OF the
Cbesapeake oyster feet moving with the
slightest puff OF air; big dignitled schooners
shrouded from bow to stern in white can
vas. and mosquitolike little canoes moving
easily when the others lay becalmed.
The feet was sown thick over severn
square miles OF CLASSY water. hulls ana
sails doubled In the perfect mirror gfe-
oious sight, the verJ' poetry or trade As
the steamer slowly moved about among
the vessels Of the feet the sounds that
came from the ten score craft in sight were
the uneasy oreaking OF cordage as the sails
swung idly in the empty air; a whisperen
ripple at the prows when a catspaw set
the whole white company in gentle motion;
the cry Of the winch and the cIank OF the
chains az a dredge was now and then drawn
ND to dump it's wet and noisy freight on deck;
laughter, hailing talk and the music oil
banjo or ACCORDION.
The crews for the most part lounged at
ease a grimy but not i'll favored company.
Some ate their postponed midday meal.
others opened oysters, many gossiPed
from boat to boat as three or four drifted
side by side. and all stared with interest
hut without resentment at the police boat
and her captain.
TIE commander was in no mood Tor
severe enforcement Of the law just then, al
the afternoon was wearing late ana TO
make an arrest mea mt either return to
the little harbor in st. Mary county or
a doubtful experiment with the Magistrates
AnV in
Virrinlan must be arraigned So with
the Sabbath calm that had fallen upon
the majestic food OF the Potomac came q
truce Of God, and the police boat sailed
about among her natural enemies exchang-
ing courteous salutations and s~apping
nautical gossip.
Then. having administered some whole
some advice az TO an early compliance
with the law the commander steered for
Lswisetta. better known locally as Coan
River. a little harbor on the Virginia
side. much frequented by dredgers.
Shortly after sunset the dredging feet
began to come in. They came slowly. with
all sails set before mere breath OF breeze,
by ones. twos. and threes, until there were
nearly hundred sail across the mouth OF the
tiny bay. In the rich twilight of red
sunset and great silvery moon, queen OF a
cloudless sky, they crept ghostlike TO their
moorings all about the harhor and iar INTO
the night the lagRards kept coming IN untll
their masts bristled dense thicket against
the horizon.
Every two or three minutes there was a
ohuR and rattle of chains as an anchor
wac let go. n orealdng OF cordaSe a. a san
slinned down the ranst. and loud halls from
boat 10 boat. and later. as the calm of night
settled dense over the scene. songs broke
forth from near and far, tbs clear notes Of
flute foated upon the waters and the pink
plank-plunk of banjo came from dim
desoried craft across the harbor.
Before 10 O'Clock the sounds ceased and
the westering moon looked down upon
scores of bare masts and the low dark
hulls motionless upon the undistuTbed
raters while red and green lights at stem
and stern twinkled mildly in the night and
! doubled themselves in the CLASSY food.