The San Francisco call., 1909-09-26
By red Vincent

erWOmen, but the one pest known
to the public at large is the one
pictured in song and story as
usually sitting on the doorstep Of
her tiny cottage. casting anxious
the return of her fisher spouse
Poets have immortalized this Great
ure; writers of fact and fancy
have descanted on her lifelong sorrows,
and magazine illustrators have por-
trayed her in, a fashion peculiarly
their own. Nevertheless, 1t is true that
IN spite Of poetry, tradition or fancy.
the fsherwoman of fact is very diff
ferent being from the ideal one who
has stirred the pity and sympathy OF
thousands, though she loses none Of her
admirable qualities in the transforma-
tion.
In any of the fishing settlements
about San Francisco bay the real fisher
woman OF the present day may be
found Her duties are manifold; her
life hard. She is often fisherman.
housewife and mother combined: the
better half Of the family sometimes,
for In many cases she does the better
half Of the labor in the struggle for
livelihood.
Often the fsherwoman's home is a
40 foot smack owned perhaps by her
sisters husband, or her own. and in
this solid little sailing craft she works.
accomplishes waits and endures with
/
man. She is strong. healthy, used to
the broad, open spaces of sea and sky,
and the free. fresh life in the boat is
all that she knows. When her husband
tolls she is. if possible. at his side.
Should she be on land, and he out in the
boat alone. she is not particularly anx-
ious about her spouse out on the
bounding main. If a storm arises the
weather bureau has sent out notice Of
its approach and the fisher folk have
had ample time TO steer for sheltered
cove where the still waters lie. Seldom
90 the fishing boats venture far out to
sea, and sudden indeed must be the
blow that can catch these hardy folk.
mapping.
So idle moments are few and far be-
tween for the ishermans wife. In
the boat there is much to be looked
after-the nets. the fish. the bait-with
the eye constantly on the lookout for
signs Of weather change. On land
the children must be looked after: there
are nets, heavy awkward things
often over 200 feet long to be repaired
the new net TO make, the house to be
kept clean and her own stout scanty
wardrobe TO be kept likewise.
The fortunes Of a fisherman depend
on the size of his catch. Arrayed
against his efforts are the tickle forces
OF nature. Predatory sealife preys
on the fish. on which he himself preys;
his success is affected by the winds, the
waves, the tides; lastly he has to face
sharp competition in the form of his
falIow nshermen, who strive Justify TO
be the first to haul the catch into the
boat that they may set sail the sooner
for the shore and sell.
And in this battle for supremacy the
woman aids her mate. II is no uncom-
mon sight TO see one of these fisher
woman, broad Of back and ample OF
girth. hauling in 800 pound net. or
rowizE stroke for stroke with her hus-
pano or brother after they have fished
<;ss entire day near the heads, or cast
tae,r gDI nets in the channel to eptrap
ne silver herring or the fat smelt. She
mas grown strong, self-reliant and
brave. Should sudden storm come
spon them she evinces no fear. Hyste-
ria is out OF place on a 40 foot smack.
The majority of the fishermen who
supply the fish marts of the bay cities
are Portuguese and Italians. Usually
they work two men to the boat. except
IN winter, when the weather is uncer-
tain. A few of these workers Of the
deep own gasoline power boats, while
the ocean fishermen have smacks. but
bv far the larger part of the fishers
cling to the is and 20 foot hshboats.
mo64lek afte- those used in the Medi-