26 FISHEEMEN OF THE UNITED STATES. 



The food used by these people on shore is plain and offering little variety, consisting mainly 

 of fish and oysters. Fresh meat is not much used, salt pork taking its place. While fishing 

 the men generally live in better style, having all the best articles of food that can be bought at the 

 stores. The reason of this is, that all the provisions are advanced on credit, and the storekeepers, 

 having the vessel or boat, gear, and catch as security, are willing to advance more than to any one 

 of the ordinary fishermen with a family, who has only his share of the catch wherewith to pay all of 

 the necessary household bills. 



The school system is very poor, only the children of the richer people attending, the tuition 

 and outfit of books being too expensive for most of the poor. However, all the children receive 

 some education in various ways, learning to read, write, and figure a little. 



Of amusements there are but few, beyond an occasional gathering of old and young at some 

 private hpuse, where dancing and games are enjoyed, with refreshments at the end. 



It is a quiet and orderly place. Every one conducts himself in public in a manner that would 

 stand the severest scrutiny. Even the wild young men who, having "knocked about" over the 

 world, are accustomed to all vices, here seem to be awed by the steadiness of others, and carry 

 themselves accordingly. 



When any one commits an act which by the authorities of the town is considered disgraceful, 

 or not in accordance with their ideas, they furnish him an old "bateau," and give him but a short 

 time to choose the direction which he shall take. 



There are one or two bar rooms, where the old and middle-aged men obtain their "toddy" 

 without commerit from others, but if a young man indulges too freely it will never be forgotten 

 or forgiven. Many of the population, comprising the Spanish, Italians, and French, are Eoman 

 Catholics, provided with a priest and church, which they attend with their usual regularity. 

 There are two or three Protestant churches, both white and colored, which are also well attended 

 by old and young. It was said by a stranger, who was rather disgusted with the dullness of the 

 place, that "because of having nothing else to do, the people went to church." The funeral of a 

 young man took place since I have been here, and I must say that the men and boys turned out 

 to attend in a manner that surprised me. 



I have not met a fisherman yet who can give me au exact statement of his yearly earnings, for 

 they are engaged in many kinds of work, and are idle part of the time. By putting several state- 

 ments together, I believe I have arrived at a reasonable estimate of the profits of an active fisher- 

 man for one year. Let us suppose such a man is very fortunate and has work at all the fishing 

 trades of the place in succession. First comes the sponge-fishing, beginning in March and ending 

 in September, out of which, with good luck, a man may clear $200. He then is several weeks idle, 

 when he joins a crew fitted out for the fall mullet-fishing. At this he works until the 1st of De- 

 cember, perhaps, clearing $40 or $50. The season for shipping oysters has by that time arrived, 

 and as soon as he is back from mullet-fishing he is offered a chance on an oyster-boat. It is prob- 

 ably the last of December before he gets fully to work at oystering, which he follows until March, 

 when the sponging-vessels again fit out. He will make on the oyster-boat about $75. 



Summing up the year's profits, it will be seen that this man makes $300 clear of his own 

 expenses, with which he clothes himself, and clothes and feeds his family. 



