The Wasp — 1881 — page 52: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a poem by Hector A. Stuart dedicated to San Francisco's crab-fishing community. The lengthy verse, accompanied by illustrations, appears to be a mock-heroic elegy—treating working-class crab fishermen with exaggerated solemnity typically reserved for important figures. The text references specific locations (Meigg's Wharf, Long Bridge) and mentions figures like "Sam Colliau" and "Thomas Gray," though their exact identities are unclear from context alone. The illustrations show waterfront scenes with fishermen and boats. The satire likely targets either the fishermen themselves, San Francisco's maritime culture, or possibly local politics connected to the wharf. The tone mixes humor with nostalgia, suggesting commentary on changing waterfront conditions or the fishermen's social status.