The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-12-05
A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY, (NO. y

NNt a h'NiS ld'i. OllS ilNSd Wi
near neighbor but was bred and
born on the river bank near Blooms
burg. Her maiden name was
Hendershot. Her father owned a
river farm and also owned shad
fishery. | do not know where this
farm is, or who now owns 1t. The
time of which | now speak, when
this woman was a girl, must be
considerably over one hundred
years ago. The stories she used
to tell about catching shad was so
exhilerating and exciting that l
really longed to be fisherman.
This woman was married TO Peter
Eveland, whose descendants must
now reach the fifth generation.
And the Evelands of these ances-
tors are very numerous. The time
of which | speak Bloomsbury was
i'll all probability yet very small
town, and all the surrounding
country sparsely settled, and only
partially cleared up, Hence the
propagation of shad was but little
lmpeded by large catches, or other
distractions.
This woman often told me that
the run of shad in the spring was SO
| great that one could stand on the
river bank and see the water wave
as the fish passed up stream. Her
father caught wagon loads of them,
and sold of the finest of them for
shilling apiece.
The shad went to the head wat
ers OF the river to spawn and ie-
turned in June floating OH their
sides and backs and in all proba-
bilty died before reaching the
ocean. l often heard the remark
that any animal becoming reduced
almost to skeleton, that it was as
poor as a shad in June" l often
heard people relate that the river
was literally covered with floating
shad, many dead and others dying
after spawning in June. venture
the assertion that were it possible
that another run of shad, such as
Mrs. Eveland used to relate, moved
up the river, the river banks, on
both sides would be thronged by
excited people, men, women and
children, each with some device to
capture these finnies, which make
such delicious fry. If you people
did not get excited, you are not
built after my fashion.
But hundred years or more is
a cycle that has wrought great
changes. Of course the improve
ments i'll the course of progression
have far overbalanced the sporting
privileges of the primeval forest
and streams. While those people
of long ago killed the panther,
wolf, bear and deer, and could
boast of their prowess and trophies,
i'll exciting struggles and narrow
escapes, none OF them ever saw
railroad, steamboat, telegraph, tele-
phone, bicycle, automobile and a
thousand other good things which
we enjoy. Neither did many Of
them have the privilege of news
papers, books, schools and litera-
ture which we all now 50 highly
enjoy.
But l also heard Peter Kase,
late of this place, relate that he was
once employed on shad fishery
but by whom or where I do not
know. I think that he was a ma
tive Of Danville and brother-in law
to the late Chester Mari of your
town.
When the run of shad was earn
estly looked for in the evening, the
proprietor ordered a haul made.
The crew with their boats and net,
obeyed but not a fish was taken.
After a short interval they were
again ordered to make a haul,
which resulted as before, a water
haul. Thus they made several
other similar hauls, and got no fish.
Towards morning. sleepy, tired and
discusted, the crew was again or
dered to make haul. This time
they enclosed one shad. In despair
the crew threatened to become
mutinous. but lthe proprietor said:
Men, go out quickly and make
another haul, this one shad was
the head of the school," The crew
went out once more, and according
to what Mr.. Kase said, they made
almost a miraculous draft. He
said it was all that they could do
to land the net full of shad.
1t is quite probable that there is
a number of people in Bloomsbury,
who remember the Henderson,
family and the lady of whom l |
speak. For aught know, there