Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-06-23
NACKEREL FISHING.
,or1ow1NG THE SCHOOLS FROM
SOUTH TO NORTH.
rurRE THE FISH GO In WINTER Is
srILL A MYsTERY-oN BOARD A
FISHERMAN.
From the Boston Giooe.l

.school hol school ho!"
The crews Of two score Of New England
..se,s down in southern waters in early
.nrine looking for the first signs OF mack
~, 90 to sleep hoping 10 be awakened by
ma welcome cry from the lookout at
the masthead.
M hunter OF wild animals ever felt
.reater longing for the woods and the gun
.,sn he fisherman feels in the on season
,,r his place in the seine boat and the
.xctement of the race to surround the
scbool Of striped beauties rs they follow
,be leaders headiong into the outstretched
seine.
The middle OF February is the time
feared BY the captains OF the ground
ssbermen. Then the men who have de-
eided to take to SEEMING begin 10 show un-
mistakable signs OF the approaching
tsver. They begin tn lose interest in the
places in Boston that attracted them dur
ing the winter, and make visits to
gloucester between their fishing trips.
They ask ashore whether captain So
snd-so has been up to T wharf, and il
he talked OF going south. When their
vessels run into Gloucester, anxious eyes
are turned to where the seiners lie, and
searching glances tell them how far the
owners and captains have gone in their
immediate preparation for seining.
The men can tell you the place where
every seine is kept, where the seine boats
are hauled out and stored, just how the
schooner looked " hen she was laid up for
the winter, and what her condition was
then. Any change, however small, is
noted and commented upon.
At last March comes, and with it the
immediate preparation for the departure
of the seiners. The vessels that have be-
come rusty and worn looking while lying
idle, are frightened up with fresh paint,
rigging is oyerhauled and tarred, and
caulkers and other artisans are set at
work.
The day for saifing is set and the men
who are to make up the crew and who are
working on other vessels are notified.
Everything is moving in the yards and on
the docks where week before there was
stiffness and the appearance Of desertion.
On board the schooner the work goes on.
II they had been taken of while she lay
idle, the rollers FOR The seine are again put
at the sides, the .'purser" is got ready, and
put where it will be handy to reach. The
dory is overhauled and set on deck, the
seine boat is reprinted and. if necessary,
repaired. Oars are looked over, and every
inch OF the big seine boat is examined.
The big seine has been tarred, and its
length, 500 TO $40 fathoms, 5000 to 3,120
feet) has been gone over and every strand
and mesh tested. On this depends the fate
OF the first catch, and weak spot in the
seine might leave a chance for the mac
kerel to break through anc get away,
losing the vessel several thousands OF
dollars. The big dip nets play an impor-
tant part in getting the fish on the vessel
quickly, and they also are examined with
critical eye and tested with care.
The food is. on board, the cook has his
fire lighted, the men have been assigned
their hunks, and their worSing clothes,
bedding, and whatever else they wish to
take with them, are in proper place. The
food OF a fisherman is no small item. The
men are healthy and blessed with good
and hearty appetites. Their work Is hard
while it is on, and as full health and
strength are necessary for the work, the
owners and captains make no question
of the cost Of the food SO long as it is
good and what the men want.
OFF FOR THE GROUNDS.
On the day set all is ready and at the
hour decided upon the newly bent sails
are hoisted. Last farewells have been said
to fathers and mothers. Sisters and sweet
hearts stand together on the dock trying
to keep back the tears that we'll up to
their eyes. 1t is no longer question of a
week or ten days before the fishermen will
be back. He may not be seen again for
seversl months, for the time Of the seiner
in port is short and gives little time for
visiting.
On board the seiner there is mirth and
sadness. Some have no care but the ex-
citement ana success OF the chase, while
others cannot yet forget that they are
leaving loved ones perhaps forever, for &C.
cidents happen on seiners as well as on
haddockers, and the sea has claimed more
than one who started out with light,
joyous heart.
Time wears on and wears off the edge
OF worry, however, and before the sein-
ing grounds are reached every man on
board has entered into the spirit OF the
hunt and is eager for the lookout's cry:
''School hoi School hot"
AT last the grounds are reached, and
here is where the knowledge and expert