The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-10-11
OCEAN CAUGHT FRESH FISH
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRADE---WoNDERFULLY INTERESTING
NDUsIRY--oNE HUNDRED MILLION POUNDS A YEAR LANDED
IN BosToN-By N. D. FREEMAN, OF BOSTON.

damaged by the Instructions. She
has been going about four months.
At first she did not meet with very
good success, but later has made
good trips, and those interested in
the venture are very much encour-
aged. Should this be demonstrated
to be the more economical way of
producing fish 1t means an entire
revolution in our manner of fishing,
and in time our markets will be sup
piled with fish caugth by steam fish
ermen instead of sailing vessels.
This, however, may be a long way
off, as 1t means large capital, a first
class steam trawler and equipment
costing about FIVE times as much as
first-class sailing vessel and equip.
ment. The fishermen have also
changed during the sixty years. At
that time ninety-five out of every
hundred were American-born. AS
their children grew up they aspired
to something higher in life than to
be mere fisherman. AS the demand
for fish increased the shippers were
obliged to look elsewhere than among
Americans for their crews. The Irish
and men from the Provinces came
first. The same evolution took place
with them as with the Americans.
Their children aspired to something
higher. Then came the Portuguese,
with nearly the same result And it
looks now as If in the future perhaps
not far distant they might be manned
largely by Italians. They are just
starting out In small, open boats, and
the natural course of events will
carry them eventually to the larger
boats. The captains of our vessels
deserve a word, for upon them de-
pends very much the success of this
industry. They are men well quali-
fed for the business, with unques-
toned courage and excellent judg-
ment, and are drivers in their busi-
ness in the fullest meaning of the
word. They are weather wise to an
extent which almost beats the wealth
er bureau, and while oftentimes
their actions to a novice would APP
pear to be reckless, rarely make mis-
takes. This little incident, which the
writer knows to be a fact, illustrates
this trait in their character. One
morning on Georges bank, when the
weather looked rather threatening
and the barometer indicated foul
weather, one of our most enterpris-
ing captains gave the order to throw
out the dories and set the travis.
One of his crew, being little timid
and not liking the looks of the
weather, went aft and said to the skip.
per he was not feeling we'll and could
not go out to fish, to which the skip.
per made this reply, "G'wan, git inter
ye dory, this is no harspittle." The
fellow knew there was nothing to dc
but "git inrer the dory," with the
result that they had a good days
catch and made profitable trip.
while some other boats whose cap.
tains were not so good judges of the
weather lost the days fishing alto
gether. There is no prettier sight to
be seen anywhere than fleet of fish.
ermen racing to market, for they
know the first one arriving is sure
of getting the best prices for their
catch, and with plenty of wind, II
sails and spars stand, there is not
much time wasted in sleep while
making the passage to market, which
they often reach so covered with ice
that when the halliards are cast off
the sails remain up until they have
beaten off the ice from the ropes so
they will pass through the blocks.
1t is life full of danger, risk and-
excitement, but there is fascination
about it that, after man once starts
in in earnest, 1t seems as if he can
not be contented in any other busi-
ness. No braver or better men live,
and they earn every cent they receive,
and If at times prices seem to be high
for what they produce, just remem-
Der what 1t means to catch and bring
their goods to us for our enjoyment.
Boston Grocer.