Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-05
GENERAL NEWS GATHERED
ON THE RIVER FRONT

The recent rains and melting SHOWS
about the headwaters of the Potomac
have brought down muddy water in guam
titles to convert the main body of the
Potomac for miles below this city into
dirty yellow stream, instead of the beauti-
fully green body of water 1t was while the
ice was on the river. AS fast as tho mud
settles and he water clears up little
another heavy rain comes and current
from the upper river follows. that again
makes the river a saturated solution of
mud The muddy water is having. it is
stated. bad effect on the spring fishing.
and the fishermen are anxiously waiting
for 1t to clear up somewhat, so that it
will pay to put the trap nets along the
river below Alexandria. 1t is stated that
perch. rock. bass and fish of that kind
seek clear water, and few of them are
caught when the water is as muddy as it
Is just now. To the almost continued
turbid condition of the river many fisher
men attribute the scarcity of fish in the
Potomac during the past year or two.
For several days past representatives Of
the District government have been visit
ing the river front and looking over the
condition of the wharf property for the
purpose, it is stated, of making a readjust-
ment of rents The river front property
is being revalued, and it is said on this
new valuation the rent charges during the
next five years will be based. Many o,
the leases for wharf property expire this
spring and will have to be renewed and
the leSSeeS. many of whom have made
valuable improvements during the past
two years. are wondering II they will
have to pay a higher rent because of
these improvements. They say that as
they made and paid for the improve
ments without one cent of cost to the
District it would be eminently unfair to
raise their rent charges, and that sucn
step will prevent wharf lessees from max
ing improvements in the future They do
70 f0r ctio 70 1,rAp IL
their own heads. is the way one steam
boat man expressed it to a Star reporter.
The oyster fleet, which has been down
the river since the freeze loading oysters
for this port. is beginning to return. and
by the end Of the week fifteen or twenty
vessels with oysters in the shell aboard
will be lying at the oyster wharf. Since
Monday eleven vessels with oysters. from
the river and bay have arrived here and
the bivalves they brought are selling at
from 50 cents to S1.25 per bushel. accord
ing to size and quality of stock waited
The demand for oysters is quite light.
Arrived: Bugeye Regulator. oysters in
the shell from the Potomac beds: tug
Capt. Toby towing Sand-laden lighter
from Monkeys Point: tug Dixie. light, for
a tow of barges from Georgetown for
bay points; bugeye John Barnford, cord
wood from the lower Potomac for deal
ers; tug d. NJ. Key. with a tow of pipe
pontoons from Alexandria.
Sailed: Schooner S. c. Kimble. light
for Alexandria. to load -four and stores
for Colonial Beach; schooner Lorena
Bara mble. light, for Alexandria. prepara-
tory to sailing for a river point; tug NJ
M. Davis. light. for the capes of the
Chesapeake. seeking a tow: bugeye Ella
for lower river point with gasoline in
barrels; barge Vincent McNally, light for
a down-river point to load.
Memoranda: Schooner A. II. Quinby is
on her way to this city with lumber from
Maddox creek: schooner Amanda Lewis is
at river point loading oysters in the
shell for this city: schooner Mable and
Ruth has arrived at Newbern, NJ c.. from
this city to load lumber for this port.
The barges Robert Donaldson, William
McIlvaine and Nansemord are living at
the Georgetown coal piers discharging a
cargo of hard Goa! from Philadelphia: The
barges have aboard about 1000 tons of the
fuel.
The steam yacht Gretchen. Capt. Keen.
which is owned by Mayor Reyburn of
Philadelphia. went into commission yes
terday afternoon and took party of
the friends of her owner on short run
down the river and back. The Gretchen.
1t is stated, will leave here shortly for