374 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
1858. 
In 1858 tarred the seine again. Fished until September 29, and as the work at the farm was urgent, we went no 
more until October 18, when we went out, but caught no fish. November 1 we started down bay with two sloops to 
fish for the factory at Southold. They have just built a factory there and wish to purchase fish. We heard there 
were plenty of fish in Gardiner’s Bay, so we took two sloops, expecting the crew to live in one and have the other 
to carry the fish to the factory. And it was calm nearly all day. We arrived at Southold late in the evening; came 
to anchor, and before morning it was blowing a gale from the east; so we came back to Jamesport. The wind blew 
hard from the east for several days. And that ended our fishing for this season. This factory had been taking fish 
all the season, and a purse-seine gang from Connecticut had been fishing for them. I think it was the Luce Brothers. 
They did not fish in small boats towed behind a sloop, as we did, but used large double-end boats, and had to lower _ 
the sails to the purse and mate boats some ways to windward of the fish, and haul half of the seine from the purse to 
the mate boat while dropping down to the shoal of fish. They also used one or two boats, a trifle larger, to carry fish. 
They had six men on seine and a man in each car’away boat. 
1859. 
In 1859 tarred and hung the seine again, and went out for the first time on June 1. Sold the fish to the factory 
at Southold for most of the season. October 24, took 20,000 fish. 
1860. 
In 1860 we had a much larger purse-boat built, as I intended to clear up the seine in future on the seine-boats. 
It is sharp at both ends, and 20 feet long. [Some of the fishermen laughed at me and said it will not work, but in 
two years they all cleared up on the seine-boats and now (1878) would think a man crazy who tried to clear the seine 
as we used to the first years of my fishing; and when I commenced to purse fish they scooped them all on board the 
sloop with hand-nets, but we soon thonght of a better way. I was the first that used a large net with a handle, the 
same that is used at the present time.] I have enlarged my seine this year (1860) and now have it four hundred 
meshes wide, and use six men instead of four, and have employed a small sloop, so that I can have a car’away. We 
had the boats and seine ready, sv that we were ready to fish on May 23, when we caught 7,200 fish; on the 24th we 
took 21,000; on the 26th, 5,000; on the 29th, 12,700; on the 30th, 10,200, and the 31st, 18,000. In the latter part of 
July and first part of August fish were very scarce. August 9 took 28,000 fish off Bridgeport, Conn. Had previously 
fished nearly all the time in Peconic and Gardiner’s Bays. August 13 tarred and hung the seine. September 11 the 
sloop I have had to use has started for home to-day, so I have only my little sloop now. 
1861, 
May 31, 1861, I fixed up bunks and table in a small house we have rented, as my little sloop is not large enough 
for us all to live on board and carry the fish, consequently I will be obliged to confine our operations in Peconic Bay 
fishing for the farmers. 
July 25 and 26 fishing at Cold Spring and Northport. July 30 took 66,000 fish off Bridgeport, Conn., and August 
2+took 70,000 at same place. August 24, off Milford, Conn., we saw fish in every direction as far as the eye could 
reach, and good shoals. We went to work with a will, and we soon had the sloop loaded and then headed her for 
Wading River. The farmers were looking for us, and we soon carted the fish out. We had 77,000 fish. 
1862. 
Tn 1862 we purchased a larger sloop called the William Hatfield, which will carry 20 tons; expect to have her to 
tow the boats and seine, and for the crew to live ; also to carry fish, using the little sloop, the Accordeon, for a carry- 
away. We have fixed and painted the sloops and boats; tarred and hung the seine, and have everything ready to 
commence fishing the 4th of June, but the wind came on to blow and we had a violent east storm. 
June 5th, Thursday: Wind continues east, so we did not fish, but fixed the deck boards and bunks on board the 
William Hatfield. Triday, 6th: Went down bay; wind continues east; went in Noyack Bay, but caught no fish; jus 
at night went up and anchored in the cove near New Suffolk. Saturday, 7th: Went out; caught 3,000 fish; landed 
them at Jamesport. Monday, 9th: Wind blows strong from the east; we did not fish. Tuesday, 10th: Went out in 
Peconic Bay; caught 6,500 fish ; sent them to J. Applie’s factory ; pleasant. Wednesday, 11th: Wind blew strong; did 
not fish. Thursday, 12th: Went out in Peconic Bay; caught 4,150 fish; sent them to Jamesport for the farmers; pleas- 
ant. Friday, 13th: Caught in Peconic Bay 18,950 fish ; landed them at Jamesport; pleasant. Saturday, 14th: Caught 
in Peconic Bay 22,500 lish; landed them at J amesport; pleasant. Monday, 16th: Went out in Peconic Bay; caught 
18,900 fish ; landed them at Jamesport; pleasant. Tuesday, 17th: Caught in Peconic Bay 23,050 fish; landed at James- 
port. Wednesday, 18th: Wind blew hard SW.; we did not go fishing; we fixed the reel. Thursday, 19th: Went out 
fishing; caught none. Friday, 20th: Went down through Peconic Bay, and were bound down into Gardiner’s Bay, 
when, abreast of Greenport, we saw a good shoal of fish; went around it, but, the water being deep, they dove the 
seine and came up back side in good shape; we took the seine on as soon as we could and tried them again; they 
dove the second time, and while we were getting our seine on the boats they had moved into shoaler water; we tried 
them the third time, when we caught them; we saved 27,500; sent them to J. Applie’s factory; pleasant day. Satur 
