July 20, 1989 - Catch of the Night: Moonlight and Hush014 The Suffolk Times • July 20, 1989
Catch of the Night: Moonlight and Hush
By Stoutenburah
We knew the tide wasn't right for
eeling but everything else was. It was
perfectly still and there was something
about the approaching evening that said,
"You just have to get out on the water
and make an attempt at eeling even if
it's only a pretense to absorb the won-
ders of the night."
It was the usual last- minute rush to
get everything together; motor, gas,
spears, lights, big bucket with a lid to
keep the squirming monsters in should
we get them, boots because the old boat
always has a certain amount of water
sloshing in it, hats to keep the bugs off,
long - sleeved shirts for the same reason,
and oars just in case — and we were off.
We'd been a little late getting started
but it didn't hurt for flood tide a half an
hour one side or the other wouldn't
matter anyhow. What would have been
ideal was an incoming tide about one
quarter the way up. This gives the boat
enough depth to get in and around and
also invites the eels in to feed. Of
course, we had the exact opposite but as
I mentioned earlier the evening lured us
almost like the sirens of Greek and Ro-
man mythology.
Aluminum boats might be nice be-
cause of lightness and durability, but
their one big disadvantage is they act
like a drum whenever you hit any
equipment against them. Our old boat
was no exception. In the quiet of the
evening it almost sounded as if we were
trying deliberately to arouse the neigh-
bors who sat at their TVs along the edge
of the still waters where the boat was
docked
Gnats Yes, Mosquitoes No
Surprisingly there were few
mosquitoes but the gnats were every-
where. On occasion you would breathe
one of the little creatures in only to
cough it up and spit it out like some
giant gobbling up the little people of
fairyland.
As usual the outboard that probably
should have been retired years ago gave
me a hard time. It refused my pulling
and choking and even an occasional
curse. It also refused to even acknowl-
edge it could attempt to start until
Roger said, "Let me try it." For some
reason, unknown to me, and I think to
the amazement of Roger, it coughed,
sputtered and finally started up for him.
From then on it would purr like a kitten
for 10 to 15 minutes and then com-
pletely die. I think it wanted to frustrate
Focus on
Nature
me, which I acknowledge it did success-
fully.
The lights shone through the hazy
water without revealing the bottom. The
water was too high. I'd steer the boat to
the water's edge where we could see
better but still no action. The heat of
the day had warmed the water and the
damp coolness of the evening caused a
mist to rise around us. The creek edge
glistened with dew by now on every
blade of thatch grass that lined our way.
Occasionally a moth would fly into
the light to be dazzled and then disappear
into his world of moonlight. I thought
of our adventure into the night as I
pondered the moth's night exploits.
Where was he going? What did he seek?
Pleasure for sure, but a world we mor-
tals will never know.
The moon was out in all its bright-
ness, three quarters full and not a cloud
in the sky. It was one of those nights
that the stars were blanked out by the
brightness of the moon. You had to
search hard to find a star and when you
did it had to be the brightest in the sky
to overcome the moon's brilliance.
Swan Along the Way
As we moved along with the motor
barely idling a swan pushed ahead in the
silvery path of the moon. From its sides
a fairy -like wake ran from movement
through the water. It was an enchanting
night, one you'd expect some painter to
put down in a moonlight scene. Ripple
after ripple peeled away in creamy silver
rolls from that regal bird. Head held
high it kept its dignity all the way till it
scurried to the left and the magic that
had captured us slipped away. I wondered
if this was the male, for a nest was
nearby, or could it have been a female
washed out by high tides and heavy
rains? Nature's a hard taskmaster and
many of her subjects don't make it
when her wrath is let loose.
Occasionally there'd be a great com-
motion in the bow when Roger would
see an eel. The spear would go flying
through the air, the boat would rock, the
light would swing crazily about and if
luck, or should I say skill, was on his
side a squirming eel would come aboard
and promptly be dropped into the big
bucket. Then there'd be a thrashing
about for a few minutes and eventually
Don't Cook!
tiYJy
Make it easy on yourself . Call us!
SAftmig
C, MW MCIUM AND FISH
765- 1242.Open 7 days a week from 11 on
• Scallops
• Shrimp Boats
• Fish and Chips
• Chicken Cutlet Sandwich
• Chicken Chunks
• Homemade Salads
• Fish Sandwich
with hot sauce
• Fries ...and of course our
• Fried Clams
• Crab Cakes
Crispy Chicken!
Between Armando's and Ciccilino
In the Port of Egypt Complex, East Main Road, Southold
— m s= -w—ma —moss swans iucKy enough to escape the deluge of
rain and high tides this year now have young. The loners we see are
nonbreeding birds or ones whose nests have been destroyed.
quiet and composure would take over the
boat once again.
Our luck as we knew was going to be
poor at best so we took the opportunity
to cruise out into the bay. We passed
boats in the cove quietly asleep but all
tethered into the tide that quietly passed
under them. It was a dream world and
one we both wished would go on for-
ever. We were charmed by the evening.
We found a small cut in the land which
we proceeded up to explore but like ev-
erywhere else the tide was too high for
eels.
The water had taken on an ominous
look. Could it be the brown tide coming
back or was it the heavy rains causing a
silting effect? Whatever it was, it was
brought to our attention dramatically by
a little stream that flowed out from the
marsh. Here the water was crystal clear.
The marsh had filtered the water and
there was a most noticeable break where
the two blends met. Once again we saw
nature at work trying to make things
right.
The trip back across the bay was un-
eventful. We rode in the moonlight
without saying a word. We even turned
the light off and glided effortlessly along
the mirrored water. We didn't get many
eels so the night couldn't be remem-
bered for the catch but it would be re-
membered because a father and son en-
joyed the wonders of the outdoors on a
spectacular moonlight night.
1 Ib. Lobster Dinner $8.95
Corn, fries and slaw Twin $15.95
LOBSTERS $3.99 LB.
Home -made Chowder
Beer Bread
3 lb. Lobster for Two! $33.95
4 Ib. Lobster for Twol $44.95
5 lb. Lobster for Two! $55.95
tl1Cl Q; .i i$f 1''.r�';,
Above includes: 2 s cu of chowder, 12 clams on 112 shell or
,±y
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