FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL AND RECORD BOOK. 71 



11 Uncle Charlie's " Recollections of the Old Pinkey 



and Jigger Fleets, Also, of the Square 



Sterners, Half Clipper, and Clipper 



Model Fishing Vessels, 



Cruising along the wharves one afternoon in June in search of in- 

 formation relative to tho crews of some of the lost fishing vessels, 

 we came across Uncle Charlie, the veteran fisherman, who was cosily 

 seated on a barrel smoking his pipe and gazing off in the harbor, 

 watching the vessels coming in and out. Now Uncle Charlie is a 

 character well worth knowing, one of that class of fishermen of whom 

 there are but few left, who has followed the business for threescore 

 years, commencing when a lad of eight, and in his day has taken au 

 active part in all the branches of the business, thoroughly under- 

 standing the details of each, and, when in his prime, there were but 

 few men in the fleet who could catch more fish or do a better day's 

 work on board the vessel than he could. 



When we first saw the veteran sitting so comfortably on his bar- 

 rel, the thought of "interviewing" him and thereby obtaining a 

 chapter for our Memorial Book, at once came into mind, and seeing 

 that the old man was in good trim, we took a seat near him, on the 

 capstan of the wharf, and were soon engaged in conversation. 



How quickly did the old man's thoughts go backwards over the 

 past, as we put a few leading questions ! How vivid was his mem- 

 ory of the old-time fishing fleet, and how his eyes sparkled and how 

 brightly his face shone with pleasure as he related, one after the oth- 

 er, facts and incidents of the "piukey" and "jigger" fleets, recall- 

 ing the names of some who then took active part, with hook and 

 line, but who many years ago sailed for the port beyond, leaving 

 their boats and all things pertaining thereto ! Uncle Charlie will, 

 one day, not very far ahead, sail over the same waters, reach the 

 same port, and is there any doubt but that he will meet with those 

 gone on before, and be known and recognized as of old ? "We believe 

 that he will. 



This is a digression. We were seated on the capstan of the wharf, 

 the veteran on his barrel, a cool breeze blowing, and perfect harmo- 

 ny abroad that bright summer afternoon. 



