Anchor Fishers.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3099, 15 September 1899, Page 6

Anchor Fishers.

One of the queer occupations of mankind is that of dragging for lost anchors. It is carried on in bays and rivers, and even in the open sea along the coast. A recent writer says that several sloops and schooners are engaged almost exclusively in this pursuit. The hunters are as familiar with the ground where ancQrors are to be found as fishermen are with the favourite haunts of the living inhabitants of the sea. The manner of fishing for lost anchors is most simple. A chain is let down in a loop long enough to drag along the bottom, and the vessel goes on her way with all hands on board alert for -a bite, and a bite usually ends in a catch. The recovered anchors are usually sold again at a price of about twopence a pound, which is a half-pe_.-.ny under the market price for new anchors. A big anchor will weigh 60001 b., so that the flShermen make £60 out of it. More often the anchor fished up weighs from 10001 b. to 20001 b., and there is a pretty oroflt in the business even then. re * j Perfect ln Her Part.— Mrs. grown : " T | lever saw more perfect acting than Miss Imith's at that amateur performance. 3rown : " She wasn't in the cast, was »he ?" Mrs. Brown :"No ; she sat in i front seat, and looloed" as though she snjoyed it." j