The Republican journal., 1910-05-26
CASTORIA
For Infants and Children.
The Kind You Have Always Bought
s' sssss ses Of lMzzZ7z1
Halibut Fishing off Matinicus,
Hart L. Woodcock in Maine Woo


Herring had struck during the night
and all the fishermen about the harbor at
I Criehaven were spending the morning in
picking their nets, which were stuck full
of these fish.
Everything about the only wharf in
the way of a receptacle was being press
ed into service and filled with the shining
herring. Big silvery scales, sticking onto
rubber boots and oil skins, were sparkling
in the sunshine till the fishermen looked
for all the world like big ungainly harle-
quins. Alongside the wharf the dories
and doubie-enders all filled to the sinking
point, were chating uneasily at the paint
ers waiting to be relieved of their bur-
dens.
In these later days such a catch was
almost unknown. Consequently the men
were happy. Lobster bait is usually a
scarce and expensive commodity, but,
nevertheless, something they all must
have if they wish to continue the winters
fishing. But now there was no further
cause for uneasiness; here was bait in
profusion and to spare.
All except Peter the Dane were busy
sailing their catch. He had finished and
was seated on an upturned half-barrel,
batting his trawl. This interested me.
For weeks / had been looking forward to
favorable opportunity to go trawling,
and this seemed my chance.
when are you going?" asked. "And
how about me?"
Il bait up tonight and we will start at
daybreak, y he answered. Peter was a
man of but few words
An alarm clock, which was all bust
ness, got me out of bed on time, hurry
RppSS o,a1 f,,1ioly 1,1y,ob b1,l ;ob4
had me out of the house in season to see
Peters lantern streaking along the beach
in the direction of the wharf. Hurrying
after, found him poking about in tub
of big fresh herring which Ericsson had
just brought in.
'Dess we take few of Desc" he
said. 'Dey may come in handy"
We threw bucket full into his dory,-
which was handy alongside, then we put
In the tubs of baited travis, oil skins,
tumbled in ourselves, and pulled out
across the tiny harhor to where his naph-
tina boat was swinging at its moorings.
By now the gathering dawn had made
the lantern needless, but by the dim light
We could see a long sullen swell making
into the harbor and we realized it would
be rough outside.
Not breath of air was moving. The
surface of the water was like polished
steel. The slow rise and fall of the surge
was like the deep chested breathing of
animals made slow and strong by dis
tress.
Slowing things snugly away on board
the launch, Peter started the engine and
We slid rapidly out of the harbor, out by
Eastern Harbor point, down through the
passage between Matinicus and Crie-
haven.
To the eastward we could dimly make
out Wooden Ball Island, and nearer in,
Ten Pound, the Hogshead and Shag
| lodges. Then straight out to sea he
stood. till the low lying islands behind US
the heaving sea and the immensely of
space. 1t was most exhilarating, this
rush of cold salt air; you felt you must
inhale great volumes of it and that there
was joy and good health in doing so.
1t would have been an impossibility for
tenderfoot to locate the fishing grounds,
but Peter hadn't the least difficulty in
doing so. Sighting this way and that,
he lodged the boat about till he got his
bearings exactly Then, when all was
ready, we threw over the grapple and
the buoys, which fastened and marked
the first end of the trawl. Then, with
the engine turning slowly, l kept the
boat headed we'll to the southwark of the
Rock lights and Peter threw out the long
trawl, with its thousand or more baited
hooks, as we sped along
1t was interesting to watch him. AS
the boat mounted the great swells of the
water, the man threw the line from the
tubs as fast as he could work, safely
avoiding the flying hooks in marvellous
manner. When the end was reached,
the last buoy and grapple was made fast
| and then thrown over, and the gear was
at work.
Deere, while dat is fishing, We'll 90
fishing, too, said Peter, as he straight
ened up painfully and looked about.
Swinging the boat around, we headed