davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-05-07
When Potomac Fishing
Was a Major Industry

him play and the little boat. If before
stationary, Is cast loose, SO that when
the line is out the boat, to which one
end was secured. is for time darted so
rapidly through the water that her bows
are brought almost under; his speed,
however, presently slackens, his strength
exhausted, and he yields himself up to
be drawn in and hoisted on board.
AN instance occurred near the Little
and power of this fish. noted fisher
man, whose name Is well known, had in
cautiously made fast one end of the line
to his leg and, having hung a sturgeon,
was dragged overheard and drawn off
by it to considerable distance in the
river, sometimes above and sometimes
under water, but from his intrepidity
and skill in swimming he was enabled
to get through this perilous conflict
safely and to conquer the sturgeon and
stow him safely on shore, without the
aid of his boat"
Fishing on Ninth Street
Though we do know that some of the
streams of the District were at times
plentifully supplied with fish, yet it
really does require a stretch of ones
imagination to believe that at one time
during the early days Of the city they
could be caught at Ninth and r streets
NV Undoubtedly, there is reason and
justification for believing this oft-told
story to be true, and whereas they may
not have been large fish, they we're
fish just the same. 1t is easy to find
authority for this statement, for a num-
ber of writers on historic Washington
have referred to it and apparently give
it their approval.
DR.. Samuel Clagett Busey, in his
washington in the Past" tells us that
years ago fish in abundance were
caught near where the National Hotel
now stands, and as far up as the Ma
sonic Temple, corner of Ninth and F
streets"
Martins District of Columbia and Vir-
ginia Gazetteer, publisher in 1885, tells
us that within the memory of many
then living "seines have been hauled
and fish taken where handsome stores
Evening star., 1944-05-07
War Dogs Prove Their Valor in Battle
BY Bonnie Wiley,
Associated PYess stan Writer.

SAN CARLOS, Calif.-The four
jungle-weary soldiers were talking about
war dogs:
II figure it this way" volunteered
sun-tanned Sergt. Arthur N. Tyler,
Livingston Manor. N. r, former
plumber, II figure II 1t weren't for Duke
wouldn't be here today"
Eight months ago the four soldiers,
now home on furlough, took the first Of
Uncle Sans war dogs into combat in
the jungles Of New Britain and New
Guinea. Their report, the first ofilcial
record Of how Americas pets per-
formed under fire, Is . glowing one Of
bravery, obedience and intelligence.
The eight dogs and patrols with which
the six men worked are credited with
elimination" Of 200 Japanese and saw
ing of countless American lives.
I'VE got to love those dogs" 1t. Robert
johnson O7 Washington street., NAL
den, Mass, said.
They lived with US. They shared
our rations. Lots Of times, out In the
steaming jungle, I've seen q thirsty
coASACA uAfAOC VIC ld6y plb VI W4tGI II
his canteen with his dog. Or I've seen
them wiring the dampness out OF rotten
log 50 their dogs could drink"
War dogs serve either as scouts or as
battle messengers, explained Col r. w.
Koester, Army remount service, director
Of the war dog reception and training
center, San Carlos, one of i've In the
Nation.
"As scout, the dog uses his keen
senses to detect the presence of
human being anywhere from SO yards
up to half mile or more" he said.
"The dog gives the alert to the trainer,
who directs patrol to the location"
Messenger dogs, the colonel pointed
out, are used when no other effective
means of communication is possible.
Like Sandy" added Sgt. Guy Sheldon
GOO Barre street,, Montpelier, VT, ex-
shipyards mechanic. "Sandy's q mes
senger dog. And q doggone good one.
too"
With Sgt. Memo j. Brown (15 Win
chester avenue), Middletown, N. Y,
Sheldon and K.-9 Sandy, were advanc-
ing with marine assault company
along a narrow beachhead, inching
their way in a downpour toward an
airstrip.
Sandy and Brown were the regi-
Evening star., 1944-05-07
AIgiers
Continued From Page CAY


goods, since they argue that they have
more money than they can use-doing
them no good If their stomachs are
empty and backs bare. Through the
flies slang for cops, Toby got best re-
suits in rounding up ringleaders OF the
nasty business, and using them as psy-
Geological weapons.
Although the immediate shortages Of
a conquered territory are delicate and
serious problems to work out, Phineas
Toby and his co-workers have felt that
their commercial intelligence is invalu-
able, in spite of not being able to con-
vert Casbah characters into Puritans.
Future feeding problems, tastes and
needs can be determined as the war
progresses. In the meantime, better
understanding is in progress right now.
Thirty American flight officers in Algiers
now speak Arabic, thanks to courtesy
classes given by Toby. The prize for
mastering the difficult language was the
offer of an introduction to the Sultan
of Morocco, at Rabat.
Mr. Toby is resigning soon from lease
lend, now that his mission is over, to
return to legal practice in New York.
AS private citizen, he hopes to see the
day when some of the "extras"-not on
the Economic Boards schedule-will be
shipped to his once native land-eye-
glasses, false teeth, binoculars, radios.
watches, tooth brushes, tires-even ear
trumpets for he is reminded of vener-
able Algerian who was forced out of
business because the French battery for
his hearing device could not be repaired.
And, Mr.. Toby suggests that we might
think this last one over, before we dis
card old housewares. A new kind of
street repair shop is popular in Algiers
these days. Clipped dishes are mended,
for there are no requirements. Drinking
glasses and pitchers are wired over and
over again for indefinite use. And, old
broken bottles are made fit for further
use by patiently saving of the tops
by handl 4
Evening star., 1944-05-07
Army Attacks Riddle Of Rheumatism

ous exercises to help them keep their
arthritis under control.
Finally, they're warned against re.
sorting to fads and fancies in treat.
ment-fads which range from .rheu.
matism vitamin pills to lemon ano
orange peels'
The reconditioning program starts at
the earliest possible moment after the
man comes under treatment.
Creepy Crawls.
In the hospitals exercise room we see
q man with stiff shoulder using Q
creepy crawl"--a notched stick at.
tached to wall. Standing an arms
length away the man stretches out his
arm and "crawls" up the notches with
his fingers. Each day he tires to make
higher notch.
Another rotates a high wheel which
can be regulated to turn easily or with
difficulty. Still another exercises ar.
thritic legs by walking with the sup
port of "walker"-a box-like steel
frame on wheels.
A man with an arthritic wrist may
exercise it by turning a door handle
while some one holds it on the other
side Of the door. The man with swollen.
crooked fingers may get his workout by
crumpltng up sheet of newspaper into
a small ball, or by Tipping paper balls.
Finally, the program reaches It's eli.
max when a soldier who may have been
brought to the hospital on a stretcher
and bound in casts eventually takes
hikes through the nearby foothills of
the Quachita Mountains and digs for
ancient Indian relics.
AS soon as possible In the period OF
convalesence the men are discharged
from hospital wards, resume military
uniforms and are quartered in military
barracks. One of the chief underlining
ideas of the program is to remove men
from hospital atmosphere as soon as
possible.
Evening star., 1944-05-07

flowed southwark, changing to a south
easterly course where stands the New
Masonic Temple at H and Thirteenth
streets until it reached Ninth and F
streets, near where it picked up st. Pat
ricks Spring, which helped to swell its
volume, and where it changed its course
to southwesterly direction, continuing
on to below the Avenue, where 1t emptied
into the Tiber.
An idea of the size of the stream may
be had from the recorded statement Of
an old citizen, long since dead, who said
that about 1900 the only place 1t could
be forded with horse and cart was a
little southeast of the southwest corner
of Eleventh and H streets where formerly
stood the Lutheran church.
In the Eastern Branch
The Anacostia River, or the Eastern
Branch as 1t is generally called, proved
quite profitable as a fishing ground
from the earliest days of the city, and
even as recent as the late '70s seine
Evening star., 1944-05-07
By John Clagett Proctor

Reading the account in The Star two
weeks ago of the large number of shad,
perch and herring caught in the rapids
near the Chain Bridge, one familiar
with fishing records of bygone days,
would regard these catches as ridicu-
lously small in comparison.
Indeed. the story is still told by one
of the early explorers of the Potomac
that I'm divers places that aboundance
of fish, lying so thick with their heads
above the water, as for want of nets (our
barge driving amongst them), we at
tempted to catch them with frying
pan; but we found it bad instrument
to catch fish with. Neither better fish,
more plenty, nor more variety for small
fish had any of us ever scene in any
place SO swimming the water; but they
were not to be caught with frying pans"
1t is almost impossible for us at this
period to believe the Potomac fishery
statistics and stories handed down to
us, and yet they are undoubtedly true.
We are told around 1880 shad and
herring were so abundant that they were
often used on nearby farms as fertilizer,
and that frequently heavy four and six
horse teams came all the way from
semote parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Virginia and Ohio for years supply
of fish caught in the Potomac River
In and near the District of Columbia.
Fish by the Ton
Another account informs us: "In the
spring of the year quantities of shad
and herrings are taken, which appear
almost incredible. The number of shad
frequently obtained at haul is 1000
and upwards, and of herrings from one
to 100000. In the spring of 1882 there
were taken in one seine at one draught,
a few more than 950,000 accurately
counted. ." The lowest prices at
which these fish sell when just taken,
are Is cents per thousand for herrings,
and so per hundred for shad, but they
generally bring higher prices, often s1.50
per thousand for the former, and from
So to 81 per hundred for the latter. In
the height of the season single shad,
Evening star., 1944-05-07

mental scouts" Sheldon said. "Up
ahead they ran into Jap pillboxes hold
ing up the advance. The radio was
out. Sandy had to get through with
message for reinforcements.
"Sergt. Brown put the special mes
senger collar around Sandy's neck,
stuck the message into the pouch and
headed him back toward me. We al
ways operate in pairs that way"
Through curtain Of enemy fire, past
bullet-spitting United States tanks,
through tough kunai grass, across
jungle swamps ran Sandy, smack into
danger Of small arms fire Of his own
soldiers. Dodging, twisting, Sandy
rushed on, leaping small streams, SWIM
ming jungle river, until he reached
the beach road.
I'VE were in our fox holes" Sergt.
Sheldon said. II saw a huge shadow
leap over the barbed wire above me.
Fifty pounds Of dirty. wet, painting
Sandy landed, plop! on top Of me. He'd
Evening star., 1944-05-07

brought the message through. Don't
ask me how he found me. He was
trained to find me, that's all. It's part
Of being war dog"
Not soldier-trainer, not a dog was
lost In the New Guinea and New Britain
fighting.
The K-9 Corps likes soldering.
"The dogs were eager to go every.
time we took them into battle" de.
clared Sergt William Jorgensen, pleas-
ant Grove, Utah. They seem to know
their job. We train them not to bark,
just to alert, when we're out scouting
Japs. They never forget"
Rigid discipline, however, ceases
when q K-9 leaves the Army. Some ale
ready have been honorably discharged.
Our experience with Army dogs Is
that once discharged they 60 right back
to their old lives and forget all about
Army life" said G. J. Pfa1enberger, re-
gional director for dogs for defense.
Just typical g. rs, I guess"
Evening star., 1944-05-07

mer to cross this stream after heavy
rain and when the creek was swollen
out of its banks.
At Big Rock, where the Zoo elephants
once used to bathe, and where the gang
usually went swimming, to cross the
creek under the adverse conditions men
toned, it was necessary to go upstream
and swim down with the rushing water
and grasp the rock when along side Of
it. And 1t was not unusual upon such
occasions for the water to extend out
OF banks as far over as the old stone
quarry, just south of Quarry road, some
distance above Big Rock, and when
years ago the bear pits were put in this
place 1t did seem risky thing to do. But,
alas! 1t is not the same creek and never
will be, for much of the surrounding ter
ritory from which 1t formerly obtained
its supply Of water is now drained by
sewers. This and other causes since
then has reduced Its volume alarmingly.
An old account, from q reliable
authority, says that "the people of
Washington and Georgetown used to
catch herring in Rock Greek as far up
as Rowls' (now LyonsD milldam. Some
families would catch as many as would
last them, perhaps, until the next sea-
son. This was before the creek was
obstructed by the canal basin and the
dam of the old paper mill, 1896 or 1897"
For the purpose of protecting naviga-
ton along this stream, which was pos.
sible for some distance from its mouth,
the Maryland Legislature, in 1892,
passed law forbidding the erection
thereon OF any weirs and hedges.
The Chain Bridge, so familiar to fish,
ermen who make annual pilgrimages to
Little Falls and vicinity to snag fish,
and at other times, is quite a new
structure, having been dedicated on
June II, 1888. It's site, however, is a
very old one and Webb in his Digest of
the Laws of the Corporation Of Wash
ington tells us that the Georgetown
Bridge Co., organized for the purpose of
erecting a bridge over the Potomac
River near Georgetown, was incorpo-
rated by an act of the Assembly Of
Maryland on December 20, 1891, and
from other sources we find this was to
be toll bridge.
Later, in 1795, the Maryland Legisla-
ture enlarged the powers of the bridge
company to permit it to construct road
from the bridge to Georgetown, which
might be construed to indicate that the
bridge was up at that time. But even
if this were not the case, our old friend,
Mrs. William Thornton, comes to our
rescue with her diary, where she records,
under date of February II, 1900, that
they had been in the morning to see
the bridge at the Little Falls of Poto-
max"
The National Intelligencer issues of
April 81, 1904, and March 16, 1908, not
only confirm Mrs. Thorntons statement.
but say the abutments of the bridge
were erected as early as 1797, and re-
NAMED standing for seven years, when,
as Mr. Bryan puts 1t, the wooden
roofed-in structure fell from its high
abutments OF stone" Soon a new bridge
was occupying the site, which, however,
lasted only for six months, when it was
destroyed by fire. This bridge was 81
feet above the ordinary level of the
river.
Evening star., 1944-05-07

now stand in the part of Pennsylvania
avenue in which most business is now
carried on" This probably had refer
ence to that part of the Avenue between
Ninth and Tenth streets NV.
Christian Hines. pioneer writer on
historic Washington, falls only a block
short of street when he relates that
when the tides were high fish would
come up the little stream as high as E
street, especially the smaller kind, such
as perch, smelts, eels, etc."
Thirteenth Street Reservoir
1t is the belief of the writer that the
source of the stream which ran around
Ninth and F. streets was in Franklin
Square between Thirteenth and Four
teenth and and K streets NV, where
not SO long ago in the middle of Thir-
teenth street was unearthed an old brick
reservoir placed there in ante bellum
days. There were several springs in this
block and in its immediate vicinity
which, when their flow was joined to-
gether, must have produced a large
volume of water.
The stream flowing from this square
Evening star., 1944-05-07

weighing from to 8 pounds, is sold in
the market of the District for cents.
"Herrings, however, are sometimes
taken so plentifully that they are given
away or hauled on the land as manure
for want of purchasers. Some idea may
be formed of the importance of these
fisheries from the following statement:
Number Of fisheries on the
Potomac, about --- $50
Number of laborers required
at the landing $500
Number of vessels employed $50
Number of men to navigate
these vessels 1850
Number of shad taken in
good season, which lasts
only about six weeks 22,5oO,OOO
Number of herrings under
similar circumstances 750,0 900
Quantity of salt required to
cure the fish (bushels)--- $4,000
Number of barrels to contain
the 995 900"
Indeed, the foregoing statement is
borne out by an item appearing in the
Metropolitan, Georgetown newspaper,
dated April Is, 1886, which says:
I'VE were not fully aware of the i'm
mense Importance of the Potomac fish
cries, and their value to Georgetown, in
particular, until this spring. Besides
the large supplies shipped daily by the
Canal, every night the long length of
Bridge street and High street, besides
many other places, is crowded with
heavy four and six horse wagons from
the most remote parts of Pennsylvania,
Maryland and Virginia, even to the con-
fines of Ohio, which exchange the pro-
duce they bring down, for the delicious
fish which this noble stream affords in
an exhaustless abundance"
Rockfish and Sturgeon
The vast amount of fish in our near
by waters was not confined alone to the
smaller varieties which made the Po-
tomac breeding ground, but frequently
catches of large quantities of rockfish,
weighing from so to so pounds each, are
recorded. Sturgeon, too, were once quite
plentiful, and the story comes to us Of
a gentleman who resided for some time
at Mount Vernon, after the Revolution
ary War, and who afterward wrote:
Prom Gen. Washingtons house,
which stands on the lofty banks of the
Potomac, have seen for several hours
together, in a summers evening, hun
dreds, perhaps might say thousands,
of sturgeon at a great height above the
water at the same instant, so that the
quantity in the river must have been
inconceivably great"
From another source we find 1t stated ::
"' Sturgeon also abounds in the
Potomac and are of enormous size,
weighing from rs to 100 pounds 1t comes
up the river twice a year-which is
in the months OF May and August
presses up to the very foot of the first
falls, and is taken in the greatest guam
titles within the District in times OF
freshets in the strong water between
Georgetown and those falls. They are
taken either in floating nets, with large
meshes, or by an ingeniously contrived
hook, not baited, but by a curious
device, prepared to pierce him on the
body so certainly, and so deeply, as to
hold him and bring him in. /" This
latter mode of taking the sturgeon is
believed to be peculiar to the Potomac.
"'"" So soon as the sturgeon is hung
he makes off with great strength and
swiftness. the line is plaid out TO give
Evening star., 1944-05-07

First aid to dogs injured in battle partO trainers
course at the War Dog Reception and Training Center Here
priu1te demonstrates HON to bind tor dogs In
juyed leg. -wla. word Photo
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-10-13

flight stars indicated their desire
to campaign in the theatrical sense
for Roosevelt.
From stage and screen came Will
Geer, the Jeeter Lester of Tobacco
Road, Helen Tamaris, Daniel Nag
rim, Orelia and Pedro carry the
dance numbers in the show while
such singers as RolIn Smith.
Woodie Guthrie, Cisco Houston,
Laura Duncan will please; their
styles are that varied. Along with
these seasoned entertainers, you
will find Bernie Hern, a rising
young comedian who has captured
Democratic and Labor audiences
with his satire. Mary Lou VIII
Eams, the star of the show, is re-
garded as the leading female ex-
ponent Of 1--WE Piano. Her records
are classics and many Of them are
collectors items. From New York's
Cafe society to Radio Hall of Fame
Hour, Miss Williams has won
audiences to this popular style. Her
chosen men for the road tour of
"Bandwagon" will include such men
as Al Hall, Jack Parker, Bill Cole
man; the best hot men in the BUSH
ness.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-10-13

AFIER the war, you're
going to make your dream
kitchen come true-with
a Modern Kitchen. II
will have an Automatic
Modern Range that will
do your cooking for you
automatically. 1t will
have an Electric Refrig.
orator, Electric sink with
Dishwasher and Garbage
Disposal Unit built in.
And, of course, plenty o.
hot water furnished by an
Automatic Water Heater,
These things are moi
available now, but there arr
no briOritiss on planning! Sc
start now to plan you
meantime buy war bon,
bonds you buy now will
you with the cash to m
after the war.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-10-13

like he says and should I con.
tinue to write himH
Ans: Avoid any dealings with
this fellow as though he was con.
taminated with a contagious dis
ease. He made his choice now let
him abide by his decision. He
wasn't very much in love with you,
else he would not have chosen the
other girl. Time heals all wounds
it won't take you but a very
few weeks to put this man out of
your mind entirely.
M. A. j.: l have known Dolores
for a number of years and about
six months ago / fell in Glove" with
her. She seems to love me very
much and about three weeks ago
she asked me to marry her. What
must do, should marry hertz?
Ans: It's a wOman's privilege to
pop the question" during leap
year, but sometimes it's a mans
salvation to refuse. Especially so
when the girl and boy are not fully
grown. You realize, of course, that
you are in no position to take on
the responsibility of a wife and
family. Therefore, ask her to wait
a couple of years before getting
serious.
E. l. M: I am a girl of "a and
am married to a Service Man. 1
am living with my mother on her
farm which she is trying to pay for.
She wants me to take part of my
money which I draw from the Gov
eminent and help her pay for her
place. Will it be wise for me to do
that or try to get me home alone.
I want to do the best thing for my
husband and me as we'll as help my
mother.
Ans: Prices on property are sky
high right now, so don't consider
buying a place of your own. In
vest your allotment check in War
Bonds each month. When the war
is won you and your husband to-
gether can choose your future
home. At the present remain with
your mother and help her out. The
money you pay her each month for
board will more than take care of
the payments on her property thus
insuring her home for the future.
I think it would be a bit unfair
to invest you and your husbands
savings in her property without
his consent.