Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-09-13
a -~ss Correspondence OF the Times.
SazrrESs IRON Jake MlxNnToNxA.
sLxc,AND TUE FISHES.

DEAR TINES: Elect had certain vague recollec
tions of angling for striped salmon, after sshoo
hours and on cloudy holidays, in the clear waters
of the Allegheny. But such "reminiscences seemed
only Evolutionary, and not until he was seated OF
the uppermost limb of our venerated Pickere
Tree did he appreciate the vast amount OF artistic
skill, of subtle discernment, practical cunning
and withal, intense enjoyment, involved in ths
piscine operation technically termed fishing
To be seated some six feet above the liquid world
with all its 6nny iuhabitants-their secret haunts
their habits, pursuits and occupations revealed te
his gaze; in short, like Jove on his ethereal
throne, not only cognizant of the ways of men,
but like him invisible to all subordinate eyes,
was to Elec situation as novel as it was graft
flying. 1t was my happiness to induct him into
the arcana of the hook and line, and once fairly
initiated, he quickly proved an adept. .q
On the occasion of his first lesson We mounted
the projecting tree just es the sun was rsing-the
Lake sheet of glass, and, as it always is when
calm, transparent as crystal. ! prepared pick
erel bait. shoal of sun-fsh toy with his min
now few moments; but all find it too large.
simultaneously they scatter-not prscipitately, as
they do when frightened, neither with their wonted
eisurely indifference. The cause of this conster-
nation among the small fry soon becomes evident.
See, there he comes! With lordly mein and regal
air the autocrat of all the fishes sweeps measur-
eddy along. For moment his long, 1.-the body,
his brilliant eye, his beautiful cleaning sides,
and his graceful evolutions absorb all the senses
and hook, line and bait are unthought of till the
great mogul has disappeared. lie has glided by
US on his stately course apparently unconcerned j;
saying by his lofty demeanor: 81 scorn even to
express the contempt hold for such shallow
catch penny affair as your miserable bait there
The world is round and slightly aattened at the
poles! Good bye" 81
Elec looked wistfully, admiringly after his
fshship as he kept on his line of march, and then
turning to me expressed the opinion that we were
rot worthy to entertain so distinguished stran-
ger; and that all efforts to entrap SO kingly a
fish must prove abortive. | entreated him to be
patient and in few minutes he would behold the
same scene with slight change of programme.
See where he comes again! lie bears him as
proudly up as though the blood of all the Percys
flowed beneath his scaly armor; yet not quite so
self-possessed as when first he honored US with
his courtly presence. He appears nervous,-there
is a slight hesitancy in his movements. He sails
directly to the struggling minnow, and passes
close by as though he did not see it; and without
veering from straight line is again out of sight.
In this second manoeuvre there is an indecision,
an assumed bravado which seems to imply, &c You
see, gentlemen, don't care fig for your tempt
ing morsel. Pm hungry this morning, to be sure,
and naturally like to loiter where there is food
but don't imagine for moment that can be
seduced by that silly pretense! Not much, Mary
Ann,-Pm fly" Zoo.
Here he circles around again! He halts,-
advances; then retires and stands afar of, with
both eyes fastened on the impaled victim. Con-
tending passions war within him, and hunger is
fercest of them all. He is infatuated. He has
entered the enchanted circle and the charm works
potent. He wavers, resolves, -delberates, deter
mines. Hunger has the mastery, and in the
phrenzy of desperation he swoops upon his prey
and-misses it.! Ere the eye can follow he has
disappeared in the deep waters beyond; but soon
circles to his point of attack. He is discounted
but bates not one jot of heart. Posing himself
some twenty feet distant, at the same altitude
with his victim, he rushes like fash to the
sacrifice. This time his tremendous nav closes
upon the spoil with crushing sound audible
through the intervening medium. -s-
Elec beheld these pisciverous movements with
breathless Interest," and when he realized that the
leviathan was attached to his hook, he involun-
tarily handed the line over to me, with the insane
intention, as he afterwards confessed, of sprngne
into the water and struggling with the monst er
was not much surprised at this, however, for ]
myself had often experienced the same irrational
promptings. insisted on his retaining the rod
at the same time instructing him to give all line
wait till the bait had descended below the gills
and then, with the head at the proper angle, give
the fatal jerk. This be did in fine style. Mr.. Picl
was now secure, and, keeping the line taut a.
much as possible, he was permitted to execute
sundry aquatic gymnastics while We went ashore
to draw him up the smooth bank. s'Come along
old cock, III take you to good housed" cried
Elec in the peculiar idiom of our hotel runners
as the modest stranger plowed up the beach, his
head buried in the sand and his tail elevated q
an angle of forty FIVE degrees. ---.-.
Despite of breakfast hour and keen appetite
Elec wished to continue the sport. Observing
bass and sun6sh, prepared suitable hook ant
batting with muscle was about throwing in, wher
we beheld another pickerel not quite so large al
the prize just secured. This second magnat,
appeared to be afflicted with certain naauvais.
only a I" locker on in Venice" At this juncturt
bethought me of a pleasant device to beguil,
him. Having inveigled sunfsh with the morsel
requested Elec to note the corresponding move
ments in the pickerel. 8" He is coming, both eye
OPEN" whispered Elec, at the same moment tn
sunfsh nibbled the mutilated clam. .sHe ha
fallen bach" he again observed, as whipped tn
bait from the sunny's mouth. We then above,
the sunfsh to take the hook, and now the spor
commenced. No sooner does old Bluebeard be
hold the little 6sh-which he perhaps had vainl
pursued for weary hours-entrapped by the allur
ing snare, than he proceeds with terrific plung
to seize and devour it, But not so fast, my dea
stragetical sir,-if you are really hungry you ca
afford to work for your breakfast; so here goes
Around and around the chase continues. A
rapidly as the hand can guide the rod, the littl
fish is drawn through the water, and as swift
after follows his relentless pursuer. Lesping
plunging, foaming, he rests not moment. Eve
and anon he sezes it, but the instant he opens hi
jaw to adjust the well.earned dainty, tits whippe
from him and madly again he resumes the chase
When tired of teasing, we gave him two or tire
minutes toswallow his prey and in this operatio
he must have experienced some difficulty, for tn