Captain Ben's book : a record of things which happened to Capt. Benjamin J. Willard, pilot and stevedore, during some sixty years on sea and land

Dedication

'HpO the ship-masters, merchants, and ship-brokers whose patronage, during forty-one years, has made possible the eniplo3nnent and the experience recorded in these pages, I gratefully dedicate ni}^ book.

B. J. WiLLARD.

Preface

T HAVE been asked many times to tell ni}' stor}^, and have at last concluded to do so. It is the "plain, unvarnished tale" of a man who has passed his life on and along the stormv Atlantic coast, sometime on sea and sometime on shore, and who has met the perils incident to the experience of a sailor and a pilot. Most people of English blood, whether inland bred or brought up within the sound of the waves, take pleasure in tales of the sea, however homely they may be told; and for them my book is written. That the}' may find the same enjoyment in reading that I have had in writing it, is the earnest hope of

Benjamin J. Wiij.ard.

Chapter I

Cradled in a Boat-ExrUest Recollections ^ Catching the First Shark -A Mammoth Cod -My Trip to the Georges Bank and How I Lost My Black Stockings -The Hampton Boat and the White Head Boiling Springs -Lobster Catching Fifty Years Ago, .••••■'■

CHAPTER n.

The Harbor in a Fog-Old Time Hospitality on the Cape-My

First Chew of Tobacco-An Ancient School-House-How

Fishermen Came To Use Compasses-The Harm Done to

Hook Fishing by Seines and Seals, . • ■ ■ ■

CHAPTER HL

The Loss of the Pleasure Boat "Leo" in Casco Bay- Death by Uownino- of a Woman and Eight Children- Living on Crackei'crumbs in the Bay of Fundy- Whimsical Adventure near Biddeford Pool-A Perilous Passage from Philadelphia to Portland, .•■•■■'

CHAPTER IV.

In Which 1 Become a Ship-Owner-The Great April Gale of 18,1 -Riding It Out in Little Egg Harbor-The Race from Philadelphia to Portland-Forsaking Sea for Land Service, 36

CHAPTER V.

In Which I Become a Stevedore and Subsequently a Pilot - Taking the Allan Steamships into Port-Piloting a Bonded Vessel and the Trouble It Brought- How I Was Unjustly Put in Jail, and My Experiences There-An Appeal for I ono-Delayed justice-Some Amusing Experiences, . • 4^ lO CAPTAIN BP:n\S BOOK.

CHAPTER VI.

In Which a Sword-Fish is Harpooned — It Proves a Novelty in Portland — How I Piloted a Disabled Steamer into Port — The Perilous Experience of a Pilot — Pulling Drowning Men out of the Water — A Famous Camping-Out Club — Hen Hawks for Dinner — The Father of the Finnan Haddie Industry and His Skill at ()uoits. . . . . -57

CHAPTER VII.

Portland Harbor in War Time — Much Tangled Red Tape — Rushing Associated Press News to the Shore — Perilous Experience of a Coast Pilot — The Close Shave of the Anglo Saxon — Sudden Death of my Father, . . . • <j7

CHAPTER VIII.

Capture of the "Caleb Cushing" and the "Archer" by Confederate Privateers — The Bold Attempt in Portland Harbor — A Day of Excitement in the City — Soldiers and Citizens to the Rescue — Blowing up of the " Cushing " and Recapture of the "Archer" — Confederate Prisoners in Fort Preble — How Daniel Gould Came to His Death. . . . . ■ ', 4

CHAPTER IX.

The Confederate Account of the Capture of the " Caleb Cushing"

— Mr. Hunt's Vivacious Story — How the Privateers Stole into the Harbor, Stole Out, and Were Caught with the Goods in Their Possession — The Fish Chowder on Board the "Archer," and the Humble Pie the Privateers Afterwards Ate, ......... 82

CHAPTER X.

The Wreck of the Bohemian — Scenes and Incidents of that Memorable Disaster — How the lU-Fated Steamer Went Ashore — A Notable Campaign Orator among the Survivors

— Fishing Up Cases of Goods — Mr. Farmer, Captain Sargent, and the Cook Stove — The Diver \\'ho Took a Nap

at the Bottom of the Sea, . . . . . • ^^7

TABLE OP CONTENTS. II

CHAPTER XI.

Deep-Sea Fishing — The Nervous Man and His Gun — Capturing a Dusky Shark — The Adventure of the Scotchman and the Whale — My Trained Pets, the Coach Dog and the Cedar Bird, ......... 95

CHAPTER XH.

A Whale in the Harbor — The Seven-Ton Blackfish — How a Hayseed Spoiled His Linen Trowsers — Appearance and Habits of the Blackfish — A Lively Fight with a Sword- Fish — The Summer of 1S67, . . . . . .110

CHAPTER Xin.

In Which All Manner of Fish is Sought, from Sea Serpent to Mackerel — A Fight Between a Sword-Fish and Two Killers — St. Elmo's Fire — The Race Between the "Nettle" and "Sparkle" — A Famous Trouting Party on Mount Desert — Concerning Water-Spouts — Hunting Eider Ducks — Doctor Bowles and the White-Tailed Martin — The Beginning of the Sword-Fish Industry, . . . . . . .118

CHAPTER XIV.

A Cruise for the Sea Serpent — Distinguished Jurists and Clerg)-- men Hunting the Whale — Lots of Fun but No Fish — A Colored Cook Who Turned White — Collecting Ship News for the Daily Papers — Rescue of a (running Party on Half Way Rock — C'aptain Senter and the "Sparkle," . . i2g

CHAPTER XV.

The Peabody Obsequies — Arrival of the " Monarch " off Portland and Severe Trip of the Pilot Boat in Search of Her. The Impressive Naval Procession up the Harbor. — Admiral Farragut and the "Terror" — Another Great Naval Pageant — The Duke of Newcastle's Hat, . . . . .136

CHAPTER XVI.

I Become an Inventor and Patent a Life Preserver — Another Fruitless Search for the Sea Serpent — A Funny Fourth of

July in Portland — How the Hand-Organs played in Lincoln Park — An Earnest Plea for Light-House Lnprovement, . 141

CHAPTER XVn.

Days When a Hogshead of Coal Lasted Portland a Whole Season — Mr. Samuel E. Spring and the Government Sale of Cigars— Gunning on Richmond Island — Formation of the Willard Shooting Association — Pat and the Loon, . .150

CHAPTER XVHL

How the "Brooklyn" Struck on Hog Island Ledge — Old Neptune Visits the Pilot Boat "Maggie" and Shaves the Passengers — Mr. Strout's Encounter with a Sword-Fish — Something About Spanish Mackerel, 159

CHAPTER XIX.

The Schooner " B. J. Willard " and Her Fortunes — How Steamers Have Taken the Freights from Sailing Vessels — The Way in Which I Celebrated the Portland Centennial — About the Water Boat "Fannie G." — Sunfish and Their Curious Formation, . . . . . . . . .169

CHAPTER XX.

The First Tow-Boat in Portland — Changed Conditions of Ocean Traffic — The Blue Shark and His Pursuit — Wild Geese Shooting — A Notable Sword-Fish Party — The First Prize in Nine Years — Last Deep-Sea-Fishing Trip for the Season. 181

CHAPTER XXI.

Transit Between the Cape and Portland — The Famous Ferry Fight — A Stormy Town-Meeting — The Dinner That Cost Five Hundred Dollars a Plate — Cape Elizabeth Electrics — The Island Traffic and the Casco Bay Steamboat Company, igo

Addendum,

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

. Capt. Benjamin J. Willard-^ Frontispiece, . ■The Willard Homestead, 1813, .

Minot's Ledc-.e Lioht-House,

. British Steamship "Antelope," Capt. John Smith,

- SWORD-FISH, , . .

^The "Nettle" in a Hioh Wind, . . • •

• Capture and Blowing up of the "Caleb Cushing," Capt. John Liscomp., . . • •

■ One of Spot's Tricks, . . ■ • vDusKY Maneater Shark, . Head Trick, ..•••• vCapiain Willard and His Dog Spot, .

Captain Willard Battling with a Whale, V Dog and Bird Trick, . Spot Spelling His Name, ^Doi; AND Bird Trick, Chair Trick, . ;Blackfish, ^St. Elmo's Fire, / Water-Spouts, Capt. William Senter, Life-Preserver,

|. N. Martin, President of the Association, N Captain Willard as Neptune, Pilot Boat "Maggie," Capt. Edward L. Parsons,

>The Spanish Mackerel,

V The Schooner "B. J. Willard,"

Willard Shooti

PAGE

134^

155 160 162 167 170

^' Steam Water Boat " Fannie G.,"' Capt. Daniki. Peterson, 1883, ......... 175

■" CaPT. B. J. WiLLARD's CoTTAdE, PeAKS ISLAND, 1884, . 185

^ Capt. B. J. WiLLARD Trap SHOOTiNf;, June, 1895, • ^97

'^ A Shoai> of Porpoises, ....... 199

/Oak Tree at Horsmonden, ...... 202

■ Horsmonden Church, Where Simon Willard Was

CHAPTER I.

CRADLKI. IN A F.OAT.— EARLIEST KECOLLECIIONS.— CATCHING THE FIRST SHARK.— A MAMMOTH COD.— MY TRIP TO THE GEORGES BANK AND HOW I LOST MY BLACK STOCKINGS.— THE HAMPTON BOAT AND THE WHITE HEAD BOILING SPRINGS. — LOBSTER CATCHING FIFTY YEARS A(;o.

T WAS born October 30, 1828, at Simonton's Cove, ^ Cape Elizabetb, I^Ie., cradled in a fishing boat, and brought up to be a fisherman; so that my earliest recollections are all of the sea.

My first fishing trip was made in 1836, when I was not quite eight years old ; and though I caught but forty-seven mackerel, while my father caught between two and three barrels, my catch was thought a big one for so small a boy, and I felt very proud of my first success. The next spring my father bought a small fishing schooner with a pink stern, called the " Lively," which he kept two years, at times going to Damariscove Island Harbor, Mackerel Cove in Harpswell, and New Meadows Bay; though Richmond's Island was often visited, it being the best place to set nets over night for bait. White Head Ground and Drunken Ledge were noted for good fishing, particularly cod, when the different schools of fish migrated northward

The " Lively" proving too small, my father, in the spring of 1840, bought the schooner " Martha Washington," a large, able schooner for those days. She also had a pink stern — indeed at that time no others were to be seen. I was then about twelve years old, and felt myself a big boy, though not above a little fun which t6 captain bkn'vS book.

sometimes led me into scrapes. One day, on the schooner, father and the creM^ turned in for an afternoon nap, as the}- expected to be fishing for hake that night, and left me on the lookout. Looking for fun I threw overboard some fish livers and tolled up a large flock of hag-dolls ; then baited a mackerel line at which they bit fast. These birds bite hard and fight like an eagle. I tossed them into an empty barrel, where they fought fiercely in their struggles to get out. Such a noise I never heard before or since. The crew were wakened, and soon tumbled on deck, unable to sleep. At my father's orders I tossed the birds overboard. That was ni}^ last attempt to catch hag-dolls.

My First Shark. — One night while I was doing boy's duty on the dog watch, from 6 to 8 in the evening, and amusing myself by catching squid, I saw a big fish swimming round which soon stole my bait. The water was sparkling with phosphorus and I could see him plainly; so I baited a large shark hook with a haddock and dropped it overboard. In a moment he swallowed it. Wild with excitement I rushed to the forecastle and shouted, " I have him."

The crew tumbled on deck to see what I did have, at once saw it was a shark, and proceeded to haul him up, my brother William standing by with the lance ready to kill him. To the surprise of all, the fish rolled the line round him, so that he came up tail first and could not be lanced for fear of cutting the line. He would hit hard enough blows on the side of the schooner to shake her, and in his struggles hit Kben Willard a blow on the face that knocked him down. Meanwhile my father talked strong language to me, and forbade my shark-fishing in future. "There's no sleeping where that boy is," he said.

l8 CAPTAIN ben's book.

But after a time the shark turned, came up head first, and was easily killed by the lance. All hands then hoisted the monster on deck, when he was found to be fifteen feet in length and with jaws large enough to swallow a man whole. When the liver was taken out it filled a barrel and a half. Then father felt better, but said to me, " Ben, don't you ever put that hook out for shark again." I was always good to mind, and obeyed orders ; but somehow I was continually getting into mischief before I knew it, though I never fished for shark again while on the " Martha Washington."

A Mammoth Cod, — Later in the season we went on to the fishing ground called " Mistaken Ground," a good place for fish when the herring come on the coast. During the first day whales came and herring were schooling thick. You could see whales in all directions. One came up and rubbed so hard against the schooner as to careen her some. The monster was longer than the vessel. Being frightened I ran to the other side, when my father told me to pump some bilge water out. This I did, and the whale left in a hurry, but soon came up in the midst of a large school of herring, swallowing what must have been four or five barrels of them. But he was a good whale for us, for he drove as many more barrels into our nets, giving us plenty of bait next day when we fell in with numerous cod.

Three boats left the schooner next morning and returned before ten o'clock full of large cod. By two in the afternoon they returned with three more loads, my brother William stringing his painter (the line that tows the boat) with big fish. After dinner, which, being the boy, I had to get, the crew dressed and split the cod for salting and put them in the hold. After dinner I put

A MAMMOTH COD. 1 9

out two lines in forty-five fathoms of water, and presently felt something big and strong pulling at one of them. It struggled nobly, while the crew looked on laughingly and shouted, "Tug, away, Bennie; you'll soon get him." They thought I was fast to one of those deep Avater skates, as large as a barn door and with three or four tails. The more I tugged the more they made fun of me. But I could say nothing. The boy on a vessel, as is well known, has to take all manner of insults and still keep cool. It is pretty hard work sometimes. At last I could see large bubbles of air and two big cod-fish on my line, so shouted to the crew to jump for their gaffs. Mr. William Jones, who was nearest the rail splitting fish, looked over and sang out so loud that all the crew sprang from their work to the side. The two fish were soon hauled on deck. It was estimated that the biggest one was good for 130 pounds, aud it proved to weigh 75 pounds when dried. It was said to be the largest cod-fish ever landed on House Island, and the spots on it were as big as silver dollars. I think Mr. Alpha Sterling will remember that cod. It was the talk for many a da v. In those days halibut were plenty. Saturday was the day to land fish at House Island. My father understood the movements of the fish well, and ever}^ week he went farther east, where the whales and herring were schooling the thickest. The third and last trip was made southeast from Monhegan Island, some twenty miles distant. In four or five days we filled the schooner three times. Every night the nets would fill with herring. After this three or four weeks were spent in cod-fishing. Then the schooner was fitted and painted, to fish for mackerel. In those days hook fishing was profitable, and good wages were made by the crews.

20 CAPTAIN BKn'S BOOK.

My First Trip to thp: Banks. — In 1843, or about that date, when I was fifteen years old, father saw a Cape Ann schooner come into Portland from Georges Bank with a large fare of halibut- So he fitted his schooner out for a trip himself, with sails and rigging about new, plenty of hemp cable, and an ice-pen holding two or three tons, on which was plenty of fresh bait. He took a supply of heav}^ leads to use in strong tides. Some of the crew felt a little shaky, as bad reports had been received of the loss of fishing vessels. However, as it was the best time of year for the trip, they concluded to make the venture. It took nearly three days with light winds to reach the north part of the Banks; and, just at that time, the wind changed to southeast, blowing a stroug gale that lasted all one night ; then it shifted to south and blew harder until it died out and a thick fog came. The sea was running mountains high, and it seemed at times the vessel would roll over. I was seasick, as I alwa^'S was in rough weather. After four days of this sort of thing the sea went down, and I felt like getting on deck.

How I Lost My Black Stockings. — When I got out of my berth Mr. William Jones went for ni}^ feet, roughly hauled my stockiugs off, and threw them overboard, getting me another pair in their place. When I asked him what he did that for, he solemnl}- said : " Beunie, don't j^ou ever wear black stockings on board this vessel again. We have had all this bad luck b}' 3'our black stockings." This incident goes to show how superstitious sailors are. At times they will nail horseshoes on the heel of the bowsprit to keep the witches away from the vessel.

This was the first and last trip to Georges Banks.

WHEN LOBSTERvS WERE PLENTY. 21

The schooner was then headed for Jefferies Bank, where a good fare was got ; and then back home ; which all hands were glad enongh to reach alive and well, and better satisfied for the fnture to stay on inner fishing grounds, where harbor could be made when heav}^ storms came on. But wasn't I seasick!

When LoBvSters Were Plenty. — About 1844 father sold the '' Martha Washington" and built a cheap house for summer at x^lewive Cove, Cape Elizabeth, to live in while he carried on fishing and lobstcring. In those days lobsters were large and plenty, and a sloop smack, whose captain's name was Marston, came from Boston for them regularl}^ Cod-fish were also plenty near the coves and points, as they would follow the alewives to the brook leading up to the big pond on the cape, where they went to spawn. Millions went there for years, and if the brook were opened up for the alewives now, it would be worth thousands of dollars to the fishermen of Cape Elizabeth.

About this time father had a large Hampton boat built for me, of which I felt very proud ; for she was big and safe. She was not so fast as some of my neighbors' boats ; but I made up for that by risingearly and reaching the grounds by daylight. There was fine fighting to get the best berths on White Head Ground and Drunken Ledge, as there seemed to be boiling springs at the bottom, where the fish went for fresh water. At a short distance from those places no fish could be caught. I have known but one man, in all my life, who could see for long distances, and make out flags on ships, as I could. This man was Mr. George Leavitt, of Willard, Cape Elizabeth. He is still living, and with eye-sight as good as ever — as indeed mine is, for that matter. When Mr. Leavitt and I were on those grounds, waiting to see our local marks, we would both get them at the same moment, and both killicks go down at the same time. It was then thought mean for one boat to anchor close to another engaged in catching fish ; but if the two anchored at the same time it was all right. For bait we used clams until the porgies and herring came.

Chapter II

THE HARBOR IN A FOG. OLD TIME HOSPITALITY ON THE CAPE.

MY FIRST CHEW OF TOBACCO. AN ANCIENT SCHOOL-HOUSE. •

HOW FISHERMEN CAME TO USE COMPASSES. THE HARM DONE

TO HOOK FISHING BY SEINES AND SEALS.

TN foggy weather it is an easy thing to lose one's way on the water, even in our sheltered harbor. The following is a case in point : One day, late in the afternoon, as I was coming from Green Island and making for White Head, I saw a pleasure boat, filled with men, women, and children, heading out to sea. Knowing they must have lost their way I hailed them, and in reply was told the^^ were going to Portland. Great was their surprise when told that the}' had mistaken their direction. I gave them a line and towed them to port. As we passed the Spindle, their astonishment was boundless at discovering that they had gone out by White Head, when they thought they were making good way to Portland; and in their gratitude, when landed at Commercial Wharf, they offered to pay me anything that might be asked.

In those da^^s man^- boats w^ere let for sailing parties; and I have often wondered that drowning accidents were so few, as many of the excursionists slaked their thirst Math something stronger than water. ]Most of the fishermen would "fill up" Saturday- and Sunday, though keeping sober on other days, when at their work. There were exceptions though. One da}^ Mr. Some One ran ashore on Bangs Island (now called Cushing's) after imbibing too freely, and had to be hauled off by the fishermen from the cove. At another time another Mr. Somebody, who was carefnl not to set any sail when in drink, but trusted to his oars, rowed ashore at ebb-tide, where he remained for some time, the spectators amusing themselves at his expense. But I do not now remember of any fatal accidents happening to men in drink.

There was more hospitality in those times than now. When the fishermen went to Richmond's Island, they would spend the night in the barn on the hay. Mr. Jordan was always good to them, and did not call them tramps, as is the custom nowadays. The Cape Blizabeth fishermen themselves are kind-hearted and free-handed, ready to divide the last loaf with their neighbors if in need. Often, when a boy, I have heard my parents say that some family was in need. As soon as the news was noised about, the neighbors would go there with their arms full, and the next day a load of wood would be dropped at the door. No one had heard of "pound parties" then, to which each one carries a pound of something, and all sta}^ half the night and eat the Avhole up.

My First Chew of Tobacco. — My first, and last, cud of tobacco was chewed while going to school. Washington Loveitt, Isaac Cobb, and myself mustered two cents apiece and bought a ping of pigtail twist. It \vas divided fairlv, and we stowed a cjuid in our cheeks. All went merrily- while we were in the open air, and we thought we were men indeed; but somehow the school-house seemed uncommonly warm. I began to sweat freely, and on looking at Cobb found he was getting white, while his hair was steaming. Prett}- soon he asked leave to go and get a drink of water. About the time he got back to his seat I began to think a

AN OLD-TIME vSCHOOL-HOUvSE. 25

little water would be good for me. Before I got tlirougli, Loveitt started for the water pail, and Cobb asked to go out. I followed with Loveitt at my heels. Three sicker bo^-s were never seen. We were absent so long that Mr. Hnos Dyer, the school-master, suspected something and started in search of us. He at once saw the trouble, advised us never to chew again (advice which I have followed to this day), and told us to go home. This we were glad to do, but our hats were in the school-house. As Loveitt had the best legs, he brought our hats out ; still, we could not walk without staggering, and so crawled on our hands and knees over the stone-wall, where we la^' until school was out and the children gone. Then I went home and stole to bed without my supper. There my mother found me, sick, as she supposed, with a headache, and and bound my head up with burdock leaves steeped in vinegar. I have never taken a piece of tobacco into my mouth from that day to this. Of my companions, Mr. Loveitt is still living at Cape Elizabeth, and Mr. Cobb is gone.

An Old-Time School-House. — Sixty years ago school-houses were far different from those we build now. The one in our district, where I attended, was situated below the Danforth Hill, near the brook, on the shore road to Portland Light, a mile or more from Simonton's Cove. It was but one story, low-studded, narrow, and long like a ten-pin alley, and set end to the road. The long wood stove would take in uncut cord wood, and the funnel ran the whole length of the building it was supposed to heat; but in northeast snowstorms the snow would blow in round the windows, and those of us lucky enough to have overcoats were glad to use them, so bitter was the cold. We had a very nice book to take the place of grammar, a Robert B. Thomas Almanac. This we studied every night before going to bed, to see if the tide was fair at one o'clock in the morning, so that we conld row to the fishinggrounds. The master gave us Saturday afternoons for play, but that did not suit the big boys, so they would fill the funnel Saturday morning with juniper bushes and smoke everybody out. The result would be the adjournment of school until Monday, so that the funnel might be cleaned out. Then the big bo3's would start for the rabbit swamp and spend the rest of the day hunting.

How FivSHKRMKN Came To Use the Compass. — At that time no compasses w^ere used bv the fishermen. They all went to any shoal they wished, steering by the sea. In thick fog a swell would roll in from the ocean, and the lead was used when near the shoal. Compasses were not employed till some of the boats got lost in a snow-storm coming home from White Head Grounds, being misled by the changing off wind and no land in sight. ( You cannot run b}' the sea in a snow-storm; as the wind changes j^ou will steer by that). One or two of the boats made Stratton Island, and some Richmond Island, but all got into good harbors before night fell, where they remained until the storm was over. Meanwhile much anxiety was felt at home for their safety, and thereafter they were persuaded to take compasses.

About 1846 I took Mr. James Cobb into company. In early spring we went in the large boat, but later on used both. Cobb was smart and prompt, and the quickest man to wake from sound sleep I ever knew. If you spoke to him in a moderate tone of voice, ten feet aw^a}", he would spring up at once. The second vSKlNES AND SEALS. 2'^

year we were together we heard, about the last of June, that mackerel were plenty off Cape Ann and coming east in large schools; so I fitted the large boat and started to meet them off Boon Island, knowing that I could put into Portsmouth or old York for harbor, in case of a storm. Mr. Cobb took the small boat to fish on Cod Ledge ; we both had good luck, and came back to Portland loaded with cod and mackerel, for which we got a fair price, clearing about forty dollars apiece — which came in very handy, for the Fourth of July was close at hand. My mackerel usually went to Mr. John Loveitt, for he alwaj'S did the right thing by the fishermen.

Seines and Seals. — In those days all the boats made money fast, but after a time so many were brought in that prices went down. Now a mackerel is rarely caught with the hook. What with seining on the outside and seals on the inside, where mackerel used to go and spawn, and where boats in August and September could catch from fifty to three hundred pounds anj'wdiere in Casco Bay, real old-fashioned fishing is about ruined ; but drive the seals out of the bay and the mackerel will come again. The seals are now so numerous that they go to sea for food. I have seen them ten miles out in summer, the ledges fairly swarming with them, basking in the sun.

As for seining, the porgy steamers wath their seines have driven the fish off the coast. The last time the porgies came back they had been absent twelve years. When the}' are on the coast and in the ba3'S, fish of all kinds come into the shoal water, and the fishermen by setting nets get all the bait they want. If all seining were to be stopped for a reasonable time, so as to give the fish a chance to breed and not frighten them awa^^, the shore fishermen could once again get a good living by hook fishing. But they never can till then.