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Jimmy
Martin
Port Deposit Waterman
by Al Bruno
This
is a story of man I knew for many years in Port Deposit named Jimmy Martin.
Jimmy had a place along the Susquehanna River where for over forty years he and
his family rented boats, fished and lived a river life.
This particular story is about hoop net
fishing.
=PICTURES BELOW=
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
Jimmy is an outdoorsman. A very unique and
talented man who I believe could make or craft most anything. At the time that I
knew him he would spend most everyday; most all day on the river. It is
surprising what floats down the river, as well as how the river gives up what it
has taken. He could spot a lure
caught in a tree limb on low tide like no other. I am sure that he probably knows the lower Susquehanna better than
anyone of our lifetime.
Just outside of his home on the
river he had a
cinder block shed that in the winter was heated by a wood burning stove. He had
loads of Fire wood
piled everywhere, there was never lack of heat or bluegrass music for that
matter. Most of winter life on shore was spent staying warm in his shed.
MAKING NETS
One winter in 1995, I watched him make Fish nets. I had
never seen one before and it was obvious to me that the knowledge it took to
knit these was more of an art that a manufacturing process. For days into weeks
he spent weaving 1000's of yards cord knitting nets. Below I have some
photo's that I took that shows some of the work and what it took to keep the
nets from
falling apart.
FISHING THE RIVER
It was a rough life since you would get up and be
out around dawn so that no one would poach your fish. As well as stay on the
water ungodly hours with your hand pulling up wet cold nets. He usually
did it himself and rarely accepted help. The nets were to be placed in the
river during the fishing spawning season late February into April. He may have
had 30-50 nets that he would take out and work each day.
Pictures
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Heading up river to check the nets
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Dipping nets
Although the picture is not good there are about 100 + nets hanging from wire, curing, after they have been dipped in Hot tar to protect the cord |
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Making nets
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Fixing nets
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Fixing nets
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