The Republican journal., 1908-08-13
Trolling FOR POLLOCK.
RARE SPORT WITH GAMY FISH OFF
MArINICUS ISLAND.

LneSt lSlduuS dlC oOAAS OsSOo
traps. All these must be baited at
least three times each week, hence 1T
can readily be seen that 1t Is a serious
matter for bait to give out. =,
Years ago, in the fall, hundred sail
of vessels were clustered about these
islands fishing for herring, the men IN
them setting their nets In the various
cOves and off favorable points to secure
the schools of big fish that came here
to spawn.
A large trap or weir was in Pound
Cove. 200 feet out, from which lead
ran in to the shore The pound would
catch fish when everything else failed.
Hundreds of bushels of spawn were Of
ten taken from it, and the nets OF the
fishermen secured as many more.
There was no scarcity of bait IN those
days; in fact it was problem what TO
do with all the fish.
Many times the men were up all
night dressing and sailing them by the
light of the fiaring torches. 1t was
weird and picturesque scene, their
faces and arms glowing red IN the
rudy blaze and their knives flashing in
the light as they split the silvery fish
and flung them into the tubs.
But these halcyon days are long since
passed. The herring, for some I'M
known reason, have deserted their OLD
spawning grounds and with them dis
appeared the picturesque old fishing
crafts filled with their busy crews;
with them also went the traps which
without herring could no longer be
made profitable.
The lobster catchers still set their
nets along the shore hoping to entangle
the stray schools which occasionally
come in, but many times they are set
in vain, and then the men are at their
wits end for bait and are driven to use
anything and everything which will at
all answer their purpose. Founders,
harbor pollock, Sculplns, cod and Rake
heads, in fact fish of any kind, but even
these must be caught, and after morn
ing spent, and by morning l mean up
and out at daybreak, in hauling from
100 to $50 heavy water soaked and
weighted traps, often in heavy sea
which, of course, adds greatly to the
labor. 1t is weary work to spend the
afternoon fishing for bait for the next
mornings set, but day after day this
has to be done and but little do we
realize when luxuriously feasting on
these delicious shell fish the hardshipS,
veal anu ttdiSSl ShSoO eoAAS1o ~
the sea undergo to secure our dellcacy.
Peter was a Dane. In some unac-
countable way lie had given up his wan
behring's as sailor and settled down on
this secluded island to the quieter life
of a fisherman.
First he began his work in dory;
then as he grew more prosperous, he
advanced to the dignity of sloop,
Matinicus boat, graceful in all her
lines, speedy-in fact iyer--but
staunch and strong Withal. And well
she must be, for in these wild waters
the men go out in them and they must
get back. If they are to leeWard when
the harsh winter gale strikes they must
make the islands or 60 to sea, so what
ever the weather, blow high or blow
low, these boats must stand up to 1t,
take what comes and get in.
But these old days of skilfully han
died sloop, dory and double ender have
also passed and in their place naphtha
boats go streaking noisily about the
islands and the men are forgetting how
to sail sloop or row a boat.
Tie enterprising Peter was among
the first to avail himself of the new
power and on this perfect July after
noon ne and | were swiftly making our
way in his new boat to the fishing
grounds.
The food tide had brought an old
swell rolling in from Ontside. The
strong northwest wind-meeting this
had kicked up a nasty sea which was
anything but pleasant. The naphtha
boat was headed straight for the outer
breaker which we could now see roar
ing. feather white, a mile or so ahead.
AS she sturdily pushed her bow into
the seas the water flew over us in blind
ing showers of salt spray. Except for
our oil skins we should have been soak
still visible but fast disappearing in the
soft purple haze.
We were alone on the ocean. Above
us great white gulls circled and scream
ed in harsh, dScordant tones, or cluster
ed in noisy clouds over rising school
of herring. Alone with all this force
and intensity of Nature one is schooled
to silence and but little was said as the
boat pushed steadily onward.
soon the great spar buoy to the east
ward of the ledge could be seen and we
ran in near it beside the roaring, tum
bling waters churned to fury as the
great waves, breaking, fell in thunder
Gus tones over the sunken reef. |
Throwing our lines over we took a
drift down by the breaker. We were
after the pollock playing about the rock,
but hoping always, and usually against |
hope, that catch of mackerel would |
come to us. That meant money; money
on the get-rich-quick plan, and Peters |
eyes sparkled as he contemplated the |
prospect. But like the herring they |
are gone, with the exception of an oc-
casional school and these fish by sad |
experience have learned to fear boat |
over them and consequently will sell
dom take gig.
This fact was soon brought strangely |
home to us. We had just commenced |
fishing when the water about was liter |
ally alive with these beautiful fish, but |
not one of them would so much as look |
at our bait. This was exasperating; |
however, there was nothing to be done, |
and as the pollock began biting we an
chored the boat and contented our
selves with catching those. We had
fairly good success till the school pass
ed, then for long time we failed to
catch another fish,
Peter evidently thought this dull
music, for mechanically he took in his
line, hauled up the grapple and started |
the engine.
SO engrossed was l watching the old |
swells as they came rolling in from the |
sea, lifting themselves higher and high
or thpv aana into tho hal lomor