The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1912-03-10
re TIE THAT
BINDS At FISHER MEMS
WHARF

fun Of interest. mirroring the youthful
spirit within.
these men generally die OF old age
says physician who knows. Cancer
and asthma get them some times. but ir
is usually old age. and a very old age
at that
1t is the most natural thing for these
men to save money. Their living ex-
penses are very small Bread and wine
and the salt breath OF the ocean are all
they need to give them vigorous health.
They begin by saving pennies. The
pennies grow into dollars and when
the thousand dollar mark is reached
they -ali upon some man in whom they
have confidence and seek advice as to
the best investment It is usually real
estate that they buy. All of the prop
erty at North Beach is owned by these
toilers OF the sea. When their savings
reach into the ten and twenty thou
sands they branch out into bonds and
stocks
Some time ago one of these men sent
to Italy for nephew who was blind
and crippled. When the boy arrived
here the immigration authorities de-
manded that the man show evidence
that he was financially able to support
the boy. The evidence came in a mo-
mont from the inside pocket of very
yhabby coat Bank notes, Spring VAL
Icy stock, railroad bonds, one after an
sther until the s175.oo0 mark was
reached. The oficials were satisfied.
Every Monday the fleet Of six or
seven hundred blue and white boats
leaves the wharf. Each little craft is
provisioned with macaroni and i'm
mense round fat loaves of the coarse
bread the Italian loves so well. Always
there Is the big jug of good red wine
enough of all of these things to last for
q week or more. for when these boats
bear out into the open sea there is no
telling when tho weather will permit
them to return.
At all seasons Of the year tho ocean
10 capricious. and q storm may be ex-
comes too strong and the waves too
high. the boats that are outside do not
attempt to come home, but put into
Tomales bay, whore they remain fish
ing until the elements become good
natured again. While waiting for this
change the men eat and sleep on board
the boats. They do their cooking on
little square stoves filed with glowing
charcoal
These fishermen have q childlike
faith In q special providence that cares
for them while at sea Because of this
faith they have reckless Indifference
for wind and rain and arc absolutely
fearless in all the emergencies that so
frequently confront them The most
dmpenetrable fog and fiercest gale are
matters for which God must have
care. not they. And providence never
fails them. No one along Fishermen's
wharf could recall an instance OF one of
these men being drowned.
Every boat Is provided with . net
about $50 feet long. There II . state
law governing tho mesh OF tho net. 1t
must be coarse enough to allow the
baby ash to pass through safely. When
the nets are drawn from the water they
are solid with cleaning nsh- The
squirming burden is thrown into tho
hold and the net cast again. and then
again, until the boat can hold no more.
Then tho return trip Is made or the fish
sold ana transferred to the big steam
tugs. and the net goes to work again.
There Is great stir on flsherman's
wharf on Thursday. That IL tho day
mittinG. Soon after 10 o'clock the har-
Dor II crowded with trim little craft.
and every few minutes bring fresh ar
ytvala. ThstY occupants leap to the land
tng lke dismisssd school children Big,
muscular fsrlews are they. strong and
aottvs - oatA Thsy greet one another
with Z torrent ~ words and ejacula-
lions. Wives with nursing bambinos
and stragg1ina youngsters At their
skirts are thsre 70 meet husbands and
- help in unloading the flsh. Peddlers
ba0k their wagons to the edge Of the
wharf and BARGAINING and selling go
en a& lively rate. Sometimes there is
. g1ut OF herring. and . lot of that fish
II cast into the sea for want OF mar
kst. and great part of the mems work
thus goes for naught At best, the high
est price they ever receive for herring
II so cents for = very large box.
All day Saturday and Sunday tho
little feet Is huddled in a sheltered
spot at the wharf, rising and bobbing
Continued ON Next Page