Newspapers / The Pinehurst Outlook (Pinehurst, … / March 2, 1912, edition 1 / Page 9
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I i page iKieaBser the gates and there are the fish, which with a last mighty heave of all the strong arms, are brought, a shimmering mass, over and across the line which marks the outer boarder of the shed. Young men from the United States fish hatchery, aided by some of the fish ery people, lay eager hands upon the shad. Upon one section of the broad counters under the sheds being scores of shallow tin pans in which the eggs from the roe or female shad are skilfully pressed, the fish thus stripped being thrown back on the pile. The male fish are then stripped in the same manner, water being quickly poured upon the mixed mass, which is taken to the great hatchery at Edenton. It is because of this fishery and the careful work done, that North Carolina waters are the only ones in the country in which the supply of shad does not diminish. While thi3 is going on the fishwives with quick strokes of their peculiar knives, are beheading and cleaning the herring, taken with the shad. The shad are immediately placed in the packing-boxes, with layers of ice, sent to the boats, taken to Eden ton and shipped to the great northern markets. This fishery is known wher ever the shad is known and its fish bring the highest price, shad taken in a beach seine being much preferable to those taken in set nets, for in the latter they are dead and eels play havoc with them. The largest catch of shad ever made at this fishery was of six thousand and four in 185S, but in 1901 five successive hauls brought in a total of twenty-three thou sand seven hundred and fifteen. The largest haul of herring was one hundred and eighty-eight thousand, which filled sixty-three stands. In 1876 a most re markable haul of striped-bass or rock fish, was made totalling thirty-eight thousand pounds, these fish running in weight from thirty to one hundred and eight pounds, many being as long as a man, the roe from one weighing forty four pounds. The demand for these bass is large. In the old days sturgeon were regarded as a nuisance and the effort was to exterminate them, but some twenty five years ago it was found that their roe was wanted In northern Europe for cav iar and it was wortli a dollar a pound. This led ro almost extermination of these fish, so eager were people to catch them. In some of them seventy-five pounds of roe were found. Before the war sturgeon sold for twenty-five cents and in many cases were given away as a nuisance, as they broke the nets and caused trouble generally. The season of 1901 holds the record for shad, the catch totalling one hundred and forty thousand, four hun dred and ninety-six, these filling seven thousand, seven hundred and seventy-six boxes. One season the price of shad fell so low that twenty thousand were hauled to the plantation and used as fertilizer. In fact in the old days herring and vari ous other kinds of fish, were frequently used in this way in eastern North Caro lina and a formula of some of the coast farmers was "a herring to a corn hill." Striking as are the scenes in daylight at the fishery they are even more so when night comes on and under the shed the acetelyn gas lights flicker, one of these being of great power and looking like an eye ef fire amid the gloom. There is the whinny of horses from the camp back of the fishery and the lamp fires are seen on the little bluff. The campers have come to get the fish to take away and sell while fresh. It is a custom of this fishery to give after each haul a cer tain amount of whiskey to each fishing crew and this is always ready. It is corn whiskey, the kind the negroes like best, and without exception take it "straight" in deep draughts. They are under a tre mendous pnysical strain while at work, so there are two "shifts," one gang work ing while the other sleeps. Thus day and night the work goes on. Time seems to have stopped still in Avoca and if old George Capehart could revisit it he would find hardly a change from the methods and manners he knew and loved so well so long ago. Everything has the flavor and the aspect of the "Old South." It has been already stated that shad life is to a great degree a mystery. Down in the salt water sounds the writer has seen numbers of young shad, say six in ches long, in the summer, rising, in "schools" to the surface of the water. The herring is a mystery too. A young herring is far more than a rarity, and Mr. Walke, who for thirty years bas been superintendent of the Avoca fishery, said he had in all that time known only one young herring to be taken in the seine. It was five inches in length. No end of theories have been advanced as to what became of the shad and herring and where their hidden life is spent. The herring are not artificially propagated. The shad fry are turned loose at the hatchery or at other points and that is the last of them until they come back as grown fish, ready to propagate their species, going as high up in the fresh water streams and sounds as they can. From this Edenton fish hatchery many millions of shad fry were taken a few years ago to the Pacific coast and there turned loose ; a special train load of them in fact. For two or three years they seemed to have disappeared, but last sea son they appeared in great numbers. They are shorter and thicker than the shad taken in North Carolina waters and have a rather different appearance, due entirely to different environment, without doubt. Yes indeed, Pinehurst is close at hand to the best shad supply in the world. FRED A. OLDS OUTLOOK jjBPCS 9 PINEHURST Golf Iacl in Bronze A bronze statuette of Pinehurst's fam ous "golf lad," immortalized in color by calendar for many years past, is attract ing much attention at the Country Club. It is in sun-dial form, the work of Mrs. Lucy P. C. Richards, the sculptress. . An Attractive IMaplay A rare treat is in store for all lovers of artistic jewelry at the store of Rankin & Co., in the Department Store building. The entire display also, is most tempting. Hotel Went worth Booklet The 1912 booklet of the Hotel Went- worth will be ready for distribution soon, one of the daintiest ever issued by this favorite summer resort. Get the Habit : Send The Outlook to Friends. Telling, as it does, the full story of the weeu "It saves Letter Writing" THE CAROLINA OPENS DEC. 1, 1912! PINEHURST, N. C. jm; wmr"T rn fit c ro Si ii::,.i-iifl" life m 'Wmimgk wsisiilililf sipiliiiiillil nngr-,'B,n II I The Carolina is a magnificent four-story building completed in 1900. The in terior is a model of elegance, with appointments calculated to suit the most luxu rious tastes. The hotel accommodates five hundred guests and is provided with seventy-four suites with bath. The cuisine and table service are unsurpassed. The house contains every modern comfort and convenience, including elevator, telephone in every room, sun rooms, steam heat night and day, electric lights, and water from the celebrated Pinehurst Springs, and a perfect sanitary system of sew age and plumbing. H. 1A7. PRIEST, Manager, 31 The Berkshire, PINEHURST, N. C. The Berkshire is a modern hotel, delightfully located with all conveniences for health and comfort ; running water from the celebrated Pinehurst Springs, bath rooms, steam heat, open fires, electric lights and sanitary plumbing. The guests apartments are comfortable and home-like and the public rooms large and attractive The cuisine and service is of a high standard. A billiard room and barber shop have been recently added for the convenience of the guests. F. C. ABBE, Manager. r..J - Jam ,jgm HOTEL WENTWORTH The Leading New England Coast Summer Resort. NEW CASTLE, PORTSMOUTH, N. H. Every facility for sport and recreation : Golf, tennis, riding, drivine, yachting, fishing, still and surf bathing and well equipped garage under competent supervision. Fine livery. Music by symphony orchestra. Accommodates 500. Local and long distance telephone connection In every room. Send today for a beautifully Illustrated book, Wentworth Hotel Co., H. W. Priest, Managing Director Address Until May 1, The Carolina, Pinehurst, N. C.
The Pinehurst Outlook (Pinehurst, N.C.)
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March 2, 1912, edition 1
9
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