250 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 17, 1890. 



m m\& a$ivqr fishing. 



SEA BASS FISHING OFF HENLOPEN. 



T HAVE been called upon a number of times lately to 

 JL answer the question, "What did you do during the 

 summer?" So many times have I heard it that I have 

 come to the conclusion that an account of some of my 

 experiences might be of interest and perhaps of benefit to 

 others situated as I was. 



I found in July that I was completely run down, and 

 the conclusion was forced upon me that I must have a 

 decided change. I felt that my system needed a strong 

 natural tonic, and I caught myself living over in memory 

 those delightful trips of former days among the splendid 

 lakes and trout streams of northern Michigan. But my 

 circumstances would not admit of a trip to Michigan. I 

 could not afford the expense and loss of time. So I must 

 find something that would afford me profit as well as 

 health and pleasure. After looking around I decided 

 upon becoming one of the crew of a sea bass fishing 

 schooner, and having convinced the captain and the 

 owner that I was quick to learn and. willing, I found 

 myself near the last of July, assisting to make sail on the 

 schooner Eden, bound for the southern banks off Hen- 

 lopen. 



The Eden was a fair example of the vessels used in this 

 industry. She was of about forty tons, and carried upon 

 her deck six fishing skiffs, fashioned the same as a yawl 

 boat, 14ft. long. The complement of men consisted of 

 two fishermen for each skiff, captain, mate and steward, 

 fifteen in all. We carried besides two passengers, one, 

 who, for the privilege of the trip, assisted the steward, 

 and one who paid a small amount, just enough to cover 

 the ration. 



We left pier 17, Philadelphia, about two o'clock in the 

 afternoon with a fair wind and the tide in our favor, and 

 with all canvas spread we shot out into the stream and 

 soon left the city far behind. It was raining when we 

 left the wharf, but about four o'clock it cleared up and 

 the sun came out, showing the scenery along the historic 

 Delaware in its loveliest aspect. Every leaf and spear of 

 grass and blade of corn seemed to invest itself with the 

 superflous moisture, and rear its head to the setting sun, 

 in all the vigor of abundant nature. I shall not soon for- 

 get the feeling of rest that came over me as I viewed 

 that regular landscape in the soft light of the July even- 

 ing. We made fast to the dock of the Kennebec Ice and 

 Coal Company, in Wilmington, Delaware, that evening, 

 and early in the morning of the following day took in 

 our cargo of ice, which, by the way, is one of the most 

 important features of the trip. The entire hold of the 

 vessel, except a small space directly under the forward 

 hatchway, is filled hard up to the deck with ice, broken 

 up as fine as possible by a machine made especially for 

 this purpose. Great care must be exercised in stowing 

 the ice so that neither side is "winded," that is, that 

 there is no space left where air can remain, and prevent 

 the ice from keeping properly, because should the ice give 

 out the trip must prove a financial failure. We took in 

 about twenty tons, and about noon were towed to the 

 mouth of Wilmington Creek and cast adrift in the Dela- 

 ware. 



We had a splendid breeze, and though the tide was 

 against us we hardly felt it, and sailed away with light 

 hearts, which came very near being turned to sad ones 

 in a few hours. The six fishing skiffs that we carried 

 on deck were not set square on their keels, but were 

 listed over on one side, to economize space, and lay so 

 that the gunwale of the skiff came just flush with the top 

 of the "waist" or rail of the schooner. In one of these 

 skiffs, on the shady side of the vessel, John Kane, one of 

 our most experienced sailors, had made himself comfort- 

 able and was enjoying a good nap. We were directly 

 opposite Duck Creek Light. I had the wheel, and all of 

 the crew had disposed themselves in various ways, some 

 reading, some sleeping, and some making those very 

 necessary adjuncts of a fishing trip— finger stalls— when 

 a cry from Capt. Church, who was sitting on the "trunk" 

 directing the course, startled me out of a sleepy reverie 

 and caused me to put the helm hard a-port and bring the 

 schooner up into the wind as quickly as possible. It 

 seems Kane had taken a notion to turn over in his sleep, 

 and had turned completely over the rail into the bay. 

 Like McGinty, renowned in song, he had on his best suit 

 of clothes, and also like the aforesaid hero, he must have 

 gone to the bottom, for he did not come to the surface 

 until he was far astern. Then came the race between 

 man and death, the intense excitement of which is known 

 only to sailors who have had the experience. Kane was 

 an experienced waterman and a strong swimmer; but he 

 was heavily dressed and the tide was running like a mill- 

 race in an opposite direction to the course of the vessel; 

 the wind was against the tide, causing a rough, choppy 

 sea. The shock, too, of falling from the deck into the 

 salt water while in sound sleep, doubtless took a good 

 deal of his energy, and at such a time energy is strength. 

 At all events, it was at once evident to the interested that 

 we must act quickly or "Kanie" was gone. Through the 

 foresight of Capt. Church we were towing a skiff astern. 

 As I stood nearest the painter I cast it loose. One of the 

 crew leaped into the skiff, and another, who had to come 

 from the cabin and was a little behind, jumped over- 

 board and swam to it and climbed in. The swimmer was 

 by this time far astern and his head was constantly sink- 

 ing in the water, although we could see that he was 

 making every effort of which he was capable. But in the 

 skiff were two men with muscles of iron and nerves of steel, 

 thoroughly trained for emergencies of this kind, and they 

 won the race, though when they lifted him into the skiff 

 he could not speak and was completely exhausted. The 

 captain ordered him below for the remainder of the day, 

 and put the balance of the crew inclined to take naps on 

 deck under strict surveillance. The wind continued fair, 

 and Sunday morning we let go our anchor under the 

 stone pile at the Delaware Breakwater. Here we must 

 get our bait. 



The bait used for sea bass almost entirely, and which 

 they will take in preference to any other, is a fish known 

 as a moss banker. It is a very fat, oily fish, weighing 

 from half a pound to a pound, and is worthless as a food 

 fish; but is valuable for its oil to those engaged in reduc- 

 ing it. Wherever one of these reduction works exists 

 bait cau be had. They employ steamers built expressly 

 for the purpose, which go out to sea and surround schools 

 of moss bankers, which during the season are very plenti- 



ful, with long seines or purse nets, and they usually 

 come in every evening loaded down full. We fully ex- 

 pected to get our bait Monday evening, but the wind 

 came up from the sou' west and blew a gale for ten days, 

 making it so rough that the banker boats could find no 

 bait. During that time we lay at anchor under that im- 

 mense pile of stone which the Government has put up 

 in hopes of making a safe anchorage for the numerous 

 vessels constantly passing the capes. 



It is a pile of stones about 2,500ft. long, built right in 

 the mouth of the bay near the Delaware or Cape Hen- 

 lopen shore, but leaving a channel between it and the 

 shore. The lighthouse and signal station of the Maritime 

 Exchange is located on it, though the lighthouse was 

 blown away in last September's gale. It is still incom- 

 plete, but has proved itself of great value to small craft. 

 It was found, during the terrific storm which carried 

 away the lighthouse, to be of little account, and in fact a 

 "trap" for vessels, for many a good ship, whose hull lies 

 high and dry on the sand now, would have stayed in deep 

 water and perhaps rode out the storm if there had been no 

 breakwater. They came in and anchored behind it, and 

 it proved inadequate, and they dragged their anchors and 

 parted cables, dashed on the breakers and furnished a 

 chapter in the history of marine disasters almost un- 

 equaled. 



We lay here ten days, the monotony of which was only 

 broken by an occasional visit to the blackberry swamp 

 on shore or a trip to Lewes for newspapers. During the 

 stay, however, everything was gotten in readiness for 

 fishing. Each skiff must be fitted out with its own gear, 

 consisting of five good tested lines, thirty fathoms in 

 length, and a supply of extra snooded hooks and dipseys, 

 a baler, two sharp knives for cutting bait, and last, but 

 by no means least, a good "shark club." This is gener- 

 ally made from the handle of a broken oar and should be 

 about 2ft. long, the heavier the better. When a large 

 shark is hooked and after a long straggle brought to the 

 gunwale of the skiff, he must be completely stunned by 

 several hard raps on the head with this tool before it is 

 safe to attempt to unhook him. I knew of one instance 

 where a man tried to handle one before he was thor- 

 oughly subdued and lost the best part of his oilskin coat, 

 and came very near losing an arm. Finally, one night 

 about 9 o'clock, we heard the whistle of the banker boats 

 outside the capes, which was a signal that they had been 

 successful, and in a few minutes we, together with the 

 crews of five other schooners which had come in during 

 this time, were crowding and scheming to be first served. 

 The fish are shoveled into a large tub, which, when filled 

 is hoisted by a steam windlass and lowered down over a 

 skiff and emptied. A skiff will hold two tubs of bait if 

 loaded firm, and each of the six schooners took five tubs, 

 making thirty in all, or about sixty barrels of fish taken 

 from the deck, and it did not seem to reduce the supply 

 very perceptibly. The bait must then be cleaned and 

 iced. The head and all the soft part of the fish is removed 

 by one quick stroke of a knife, leaving only the back or 

 fleshy part. This is packed in ice and when fishing com- 

 mences is cut into pieces suitable for the hook. It was 

 midnight when we turned in. When I came on deck a 

 little before daylight I knew by the clank of chains that 

 could be heard in all parts of the harbor that the whole 

 fishing fleet was getting under way, each determined to 

 be first on "the Banks." 



The southern fishing bank is a ledge of what is termed 

 tomato bottom, about 7 miles long, situated about 30 

 miles due S.E. from the Breakwater, and is washed by 

 about 15 fathoms of water. Very few pleasure parties 

 come to this bank. Sportsmen as a rule go to the north- 

 ern banks, which are about 12 miles E.N.E. from Cape 

 May and more easily reached, and where arrangements 

 have been made for their accommodation, and harbor 

 can be had every night. While on the southern bank, 

 if a vessel is caught in a storm, she must weather it 

 out as best she may or go to sea, unless the wind is fair 

 for the Breakwater. There are only 5 fathoms of water 

 on the northern bank, and the fish are brought to the sur- 

 face by throwing out chopped bait and caught with a 

 short fine and no lead. On the southern bank the fish 

 are caught off the bottom, and the fisherman pulls 15 

 fathoms of line, 21bs. of lead and his catch against a 

 strong tide. The fish are much more gamy and more 

 marketable, not having been overfed as is the case at the 

 north. They are harder and are preserved in better con- 

 dition, and less loss is met with through broken fish. 

 As soon as it was day the Eden was under way, and about 

 10 o'clock that morning the order was given to "cast the 

 pigeon" (throw the lead), which showed 15 fathoms of 

 water and good bottom. Then came the order to ' 'launch," 

 and the real business of the trip began. In a few moments 

 the six skiffs were afloat, each with its crew of two men, 

 and were pulling away to separate and cover as much 

 ground as possible, always keeping each other in sight, so 

 if any skiff strikes fish thick the others can be signalled. 



Any sportsman who goes out on a trip of this kind, 

 and imagines he can keep his end up without doing some 

 very hard work and expending considerable time and 

 energy in learning the peculiar science of this business, 

 will find he has made a decided mistake. The captain of 

 the skiff fishes from the after part or stern sheets and 

 directs all movements of the skiff and has entire charge. 

 The mate fishes forward, and it is his business to heave 

 the anchor and haul it up; pull the forward oar, catch a 

 good share of the fish and sometimes stand considerable 

 abuse. When good fishing is not found the skiff must 

 keep changing ground, and the mate has his hands full 

 pulling cables. Sometimes he may heave and haul up 

 the anchor forty times in a day. Each man in the boat 

 has his own rig throughout. It is absolutely essential 

 that he shall stand up in the boat, no matter what the 

 weather is. If he can't stand up he will have to learn; 

 and he may be sure he will take the measurement of the 

 fish box a good many times before he is master of the 

 art and can stand up and fish his pair of lines with any 

 sea on. It is difficult to learn, but as a person realizes 

 that it must be accomplished if he is going to earn his 

 share of the proceeds, pride comes to his assistance and 

 he sets himself at it with a will, and after a few hard 

 tumbles he has caught the combination and is all right. 

 A person cannot stand in boots or shoes, as it requires a 

 kind of a grip of the foot, and it would not do to go bare- 

 foot, as the sun would blister the feet and they would be 

 bruised in stepping around in the boat, so the fishermen 

 have adopted probably the best tiling that could be found 

 for the purpose, a very heavy woollen sock. Fully 

 equipped, the anchor fast, the oars, shark club and other 



things stowed away, he casts over his two dipseys. As 

 soon as the lead touches bottom he draws the line up a 

 few inches and fastens it on the opposite side of the skiff. 

 In this way the line is kept taut, and should he be obliged 

 to withdraw his attention for a moment it would still 

 hook fish. Taking the stand between the two lines with 

 one in each hand he awaits the strike, and usually he 

 has only to wait a moment. Then he must overhaul the 

 line with_ all the rapidity he is capable of, unhook his 

 catch, bait and cast again. And as quick as the lead 

 leaves his hand he begins hauling the other line, which, 

 if his lines are properly rigged, should have at least one 

 and generally two bass on. His aim now is to keep a 

 baited hook at the bottom, so the fish will not leave the 

 spot, and to do this he must pull line as he never did be- 

 fore, all the time maintaining his equilibrium in the skiff, 

 for if he falls, or dances all over the boat to keep from 

 going down, he will surely throw the other man, and a 

 hard fall among a lot of fish with every fin as sharp as a 

 needle is unpleasant. Neither will the ordinary fisher- 

 man, after having seen a dozen or so sharks around the 

 boat, relish the idea of going overboard. The man who 

 now can land the greatest number of fish in the least 

 time is of the most value to the crew. This continues 

 until it is time to go to the schooner, unless the fish 

 move, in which case he must up anchor and move also. 



One thousand pounds is a fair day's catch for one skiff. 

 I understand 2,0001bs. has been caught by a skiff in a 

 single day, but this is unusual, l,400lb3. being considered 

 a very high catch. When fish are thick two are nearly 

 always brought up at a time. A fisherman once told me 

 of bringing up three sea bass on a line with only two 

 hooks. This I doubted until I myself saw two brought 

 up on one hook. The first fish had made such a rush at 

 the bait, that it had entered his mouth and come out of 

 the gill at one side and been instantly seized by another 

 fish that was securely hooked. 



The crew are called at dawn, and all skiffs are immedi- 

 ately launched and fish untii breakfast time, which is 

 generally about 8 o'clock, when all come to the schooner 

 at the welcome signal from the steward, which consists 

 in running up an oilskin coat in the rigging. Out again 

 as soon as possible; and thus it continues until the sun 

 goes down, when, as a rule, the fish stop biting, and every 

 one comes in hungry and thoroughly tired "out. But a 

 good substantial supper is waiting, which is quickly dis- 

 patched, and all turn in except the anchor watch , which 

 consists of one man and is changed every hour during the 

 night, for these banks are right in the track of large 

 steamers and are not a safe place to lay at anchor in thick 

 weather. A, person needs only to be in the hard bunk a 

 few moments when he is lulled to sleep by the motion of 

 the vessel and the sounds of the sea. The programme is 

 not altered on account of weather, unless it gets so rough 

 that even the most experienced cannot stand up in a 

 skiff; then all hands fish from the deck of the vessel. 



When the fare is caught, which usually amounts to 

 about 18,0001bs., anchor is immediately broke and the 

 vessel is got under way, homeward bound. During the 

 sail home everything is thoroughly cleaned up and put 

 away in its place, and as soon as we reach fresh water 

 the vessel is turned into a big laundry. Every man laun- 

 dries his own clothes and gets himself in shape to make 

 as good an appearance as possible in port. It generally 

 takes two or three days to put out and sell the fish. As 

 soon as the proceeds are received the expenses are paid, 

 and of the balance the boat, or rather, the owner, receives 

 one-third, and the remaining two-thirds is divided among 

 the crew share and share alike. The season just passed 

 has not been remarkably profitable, for the boats have 

 been unfortimate through accident or poor management 

 in their time of arrival at market. Instead of arranging 

 so that there should not be more than one or two boats in 

 at a time, the market has.been kept in a constantly fluc- 

 tuating condition of "feast or famine." As a consequence 

 the fish, excepting in a few instances, have brought a low 

 price, causing great loss to the men. I understand an 

 effort will be made next season to place this matter in 

 charge of some competent man, who will direct the ar- 

 rival of the boats, and thus keep the market regular and 

 avoid overstocking. 



Finding myself much benefited by the trip, I went out 

 again-on two different occasions to the Five-fathom Banks 

 bluefishing. When I came back to business again I was 

 in the best of condition, having been strengthened and 

 invigorated physically and mentally by the compulsory 

 exercise, the salt air and exposure, and the plain and 

 substantial living, and having been afforded a splendid 

 opportunity of indulging in my favorite sport, with all 

 expenses paid and a balance on the credit side. In con- 

 clusion I wish to say that I have not. in order to increase 

 the interest of this article, indulged in any nights of im- 

 agination or introduced any fiction, but have adhered 

 conscientiously to facts. This was an experiment with 

 me, and I gave it a thorough test, and would cheerfully 

 recommend the plan to those who, like myself, cannot 

 afford a trip requiring expense and loss of time, but must 

 seek something which will at once afford pleasure, profit 

 and health. Geo. D. Conger. 



WESTERN FISHING. 



CHICAGO, April 12.— The fishing season will open 

 early this year, so far as the fish are concerned. 

 Numbers of bass have been taken already in some of the 

 Indiana rivers. I hear of a party or two who meditate 

 going up to Grass Lake next week. This is all wrong. 

 The bass should be left alone until after their spawning 

 season. Charlie Burton has got some good trout country 

 picked out already, and thinks the first of May is about 

 the limit of his patience. By the way, I should mention 

 the letter sent in to Forest and Stream by a reader, ask- 

 ing further information concerning Charlie Burton's 

 glass minnow trap, of which 1 spoke last fall. In a week 

 or so one of these traps will be in this city, and I shall be 

 glad then to see and to explain it fully. 



Forest and Stream is invited by a railroad man well 

 known in Chicago circles to be present next June or July 

 at the opening of the buildings and streams of a certain 

 new trout club located near his road in the big North 

 Woods above here. Full particulars in our next of about 

 that date. In the meantime, we "names no names," 

 because the desired territory is not yet quite all secured. 

 This is going to be quite a strong club. E. Hough. 



To Salmon Anglers.— T. J. Conroy, 65 Fulton street, N. Y., 

 has a lot of line salmon rods, assorted kinds, which he will sell at 

 a sacrifice until stock is reduced. Don't miss the opportunity.— 

 Adv. 



