Boy With the U. S. Fisheries Read online

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  STRIPPING COD AT SEA ON A WINTER MORNING.

  Fisheries Bureau Spawn-taker aboard a trawler. Note the snow on the rail,the frozen spray on the mast, and the ice on the rigging.

  _Courtesy of the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries._]

  U. S. SERVICE SERIES.

  THE BOY WITH THE U. S. FISHERIES

  BY

  FRANCIS ROLT-WHEELER

  With Fifty-one Illustrations, principally fromBureaus of the United States Government

  BOSTONLOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.

  Published, November, 1912

  COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.

  _All rights reserved_

  THE BOY WITH THE U. S. FISHERIES

  Norwood PressBERWICK AND SMITH CO.Norwood, Mass.U. S. A.

  To My Son Roger's Friend

  COLIN McLACHLIN

  PREFACE

  Treasure-ships, bearing richer cargoes than any galleons that crossedthe Spanish Main, still sail over the ocean to-day, but we call themfishing smacks; heroism equal to that of any of the pioneer navigatorsof old still is found beneath oilskins and a sou'wester, but the heroesgive their lives to gain food for the world instead of knowledge; andthe thrilling quest of piercing the mysteries of life has no greaterfascination than when it seeks to probe the unfathomed depths of thatgreat mistress of mysteries--the Ocean. Just as to save life is greaterthan to destroy it, so is the true savior of the seas the Fisheriescraft, not the battleship; so is the hatchery mightier than thefortress, the net or the microscope a more powerful weapon for good thanthe torpedo or the Nordenfeldt.

  The Bureau of Fisheries for the United States Government, Mr. Chas.Frederick Holder and his associates for the anglers of America, and thesturdy and honorable class of commercial fishermen are raising to theutmost of dignity and value one of the oldest and greatest of allindustries. Not till the waste of waters is tamed as has been thewilderness of land will their work be done, and the Fisheries Bureaumust ever remain in the forefront of such endeavor. To reveal theincalculable riches of this vast domain of rivers, lakes, and seas; toshow the devotion of those whose lives are spent amid its elementalperils and to point out a way where courage, skill, and youth may find aroad to serve America and all the world beside, is the aim and purposeof

  THE AUTHOR.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER I PAGEMAROONED BY A WHALE 1

  CHAPTER IITHE FIGHT OF THE OLD BULL SEALS 39

  CHAPTER IIIATTACKED BY JAPANESE POACHERS 75

  CHAPTER IVCATCHING THE SEA SERPENT 112

  CHAPTER VCLUTCHED BY A HORROR OF THE DEEP 152

  CHAPTER VIDEFEATED BY A SPOTTED MORAY 195

  CHAPTER VIIHARPOONING A GIANT SEA VAMPIRE 234

  CHAPTER VIIIFINDING A FORTUNE IN A PEARL 278

  CHAPTER IXA TUSSLE WITH THE MONARCH OF THE SEA 314

  CHAPTER XRUN DOWN DURING A SQUALL 359

  ILLUSTRATIONS

  Stripping Cod at Sea on a Winter Morning _Frontispiece_

  Whale Harpoon Gun Loaded } FACING PAGEFinback Whale Being Struck } 14

  Finback Whale Sounding }Lancing Finback } 28Pumping Carcass with Air }Dead Finback Set Adrift }

  Spearing Seals at Sea 46

  Holluschickie Hauling Up } 64Old Bull Seals Fighting }

  Bull Fur Seal Charging } 78Snapshotting an Old Beachmaster }

  Haul of Herring at Gastineau Channel, Alaska 90

  Typical Seal Rookery Half Abandoned 102

  Native Salmon Trap } 116Modern Salmon Trap }

  Trout Fry. "Millions of These Hatched Yearly" 128

  Hatcheries for Landlocked Salmon 138

  Atlantic Salmon Leaping } 146Pacific Salmon Leaping }

  Sea-Serpent Caught by Colin } 154Sea-Serpent Stranded }

  Where the Big Tuna was Caught } 170The Largest Sunfish }

  Octopus Caught at Santa Catalina } 190Squid Caught at Santa Catalina }

  Headquarters of Fisheries Bureau } 202Largest Seine in World }

  The Pool Where the Dog Was Devoured 224

  Early Bird Passing the Aquarium 238

  The Gorgeous Submarine World } 250The Gardens of the Sea }

  Young Sponge on Cement Disk } 264Sheepswool Sponge }

  Manta or Giant Sea-Devil 276

  Winter on the Great Lakes } 284Winter Work on Inland Streams }

  Clamming on the Mississippi } 296Barge-loads of Mussels }

  Landing the Paddle-fish 306

  Climbing up the Wheel } 318Biggest Fresh-water Fish in America }

  The Blue Wing at the Fish Trap 328

  Hatchery, Woods Hole } 336Residence, Woods Hole }

  "What Shall We Get this Time?" } 346"Here's a New One, Boys!" }

  Catching Swordfish with Rod and Reel 356

  Clammer Raking for Quahaugs } 370Oysterman Tonging }

  Testing the Ocean's Crop 378