By Mary S. Freeman (Wellfleet)
Four spring arrivals which precede April 19th by a few days, all arriving about the same time, include mayflowers, “peewinks”, (elsewhere I note they are called “peepers”), herring and dried apple pies! All are welcome additions to spring, barring the dried apple pies, which only fill in, so to speak, between time when winter apples lose in quantity and flavor and new ones are in the market.
Herring News
As to the herring which are running now about a week or so—one of our older and most reliable residents met your correspondent on the street this week and in talking of herring, I culled facts from his memory about herring which may be of interest to our readers, as to past and present conditions surrounding the herring industry in our part of the Cape.
He tells me that in the year 1889 the fishing rights to Herring Brook were sold by Daniel Wiley (then selectman of the town) to a Boston concern for the sum of $1010.00. Contrast it with the last few years in which no charge has been made for fishing rights!
This year Ralph E. Cook has charge of the business and whereas hundreds of barrels were taken in the three days permitted each week formerly now we learn he took, up to a few days. ago, only 15 barrels.
“25 cents Per String”
One remembers when the rights were auctioned off at Annual Town Meeting, and the one bidding highest got the right, the lowest bidder had to tend the gate, keeping it shut three days and open three; (Of course, on “The Lord’s Day” no fishing was supposed to be done anywhere!). Among those buying the right within your correspondents memory are the late Edwin P. Cook, and the late Joseph King. Corned, smoked or fresh, on a “string” they were peddled from door to door, a dozen on a sharpened stick poked through the eye of each herring, and the price, as I recall it, was 25 cents per string. The spawning place for them is in Gull Pond, and the sluiceway from there; through to Higgins Pond leads them down to Bound Brook Island where the taking place now is located. “Patience’s Brook” is the little waterway in which they travel part way down along to the sea where they live in the salt water two or three years to maturity.
Chatham Monitor, Chatham, MA, April 24, 1941