The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-30

! owner s105. The Lroe from the stur-
Seon is made into cnviare in GlOu-
cester. and shipped to market. The
largest bonito ever caught in these
waters was five feet longtime was
when Underwater alone could dine on
the toothsome bonito. Tho rest of the
world could only know or 1t in song
and story, because it would not stand
transportation. The days of cold stor-
age and rapid transit, however, have
changed all that. Hcrring are bccom-
ing more and more valuable. They are
not only shipped as fresh fish, but
the roe is canned in increasing guam
titles. Large plants have been estaD-
lished In different portions of Tide
water for handling the roe. which is
considered more delicate In flavor than
that of the shad. The refuse of the
herring Is made into n fertilizer.
The adage, ut is an Ill wind which
blows no one any goo,.," is verified
in the waters OF the Nfobiack. for when
the southeas: wind blows. the fish all
swim into the Gloucester pounds. and
when the southwest blows, they are
forced into the Mathews pounds. After
the season is over the refuse OF the
last catch is spread over the trucking
land. which. In consequence, blossoms
like the rose. If 1t does not suggest
that flower in other respects.
The fyke, which is also made OF net.
is used BY small fish firms. Tho net
Is stretched on a succession OF hoops
of varying size, and can be operated
by only two men They are In tho
water almost all the year around
After the pounds arc taken up the
scene changes from the NtobjnclS and
Chesapeake Bays to their cstuaries,
five Of which pmnke up"-observe the
term-into Gloucester. the North, tho
Ware and the Severn from the Mob
jack; the York and the Piankatank
from the Chesapeake. OF the Pianka-
tank the poet sings:
WAY down on the Piankatank
The bullfrogs jump from bank to bank"
This. however, Is poetic license, as
tho Piankatank is a good wide river.
The hook and line now, together
with the aforesaid fyke. come into
requisitlon, and such good fish as the
trout, spot. star, tailor, rock and the
delicious sheepshead are caught. The
last has to be cooked In Gloucester
and served envelopcd in warmed
linen napkin to be had a It's very best
1t is sad to relate that sheepshead are
getting very scarce.
Later comes the founder, which is
rather fiat. after the sheepshead; then
come the old wives Gale wives). which
are rather tough.
At the time of the harvest moon
come the jumper. so named by rea-
son OF the manner OF its catching.
which is in this wise: 4 fisherman
goes out in his boat at night, and hav-
ing securely fastened n lighted lam
tern in the bow. he sits idle in the
stern, while rocked gently by the lap
ping waves. with tho stars winkinE at
his. duplicity. He watches tho jumper
jump into the boat. lured to his I'M
doing by the rays of the (jack-o) Ian
torn. There are other ways of catch
ing the jumper. but none so romantic
or popular.
have only mentioned a few OF the
fish which live In the bays and their
cstuaries. limo would fail to tell of
all OF them and the crustaceans,
such as soft and hard crabs. clans.
butternsh, tho latter unknown. be-
love. outside or Tidawater Virginia,
and the oyster. But the latter Is a
story which should DO told all to it,
self. For the misguided appetite OF
those who prefer fresh Hater fish. the
beautiful miliponds Which arc plenti-
ful In Gloucester have been stacked
with club. bass and such like. which
ut least afford good sport for the
angler. JANE BLACKBURN LEE