Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-22
Puss turned Fisherman.

Ine Rhode Island Telegraph spins the fol-
lowing yarn:
WIN, Collins, Esq, of this town [ W arrsn
has cat whose habits furnish q remarkable g
contrast to those Of the grimaIkin race in ger
erai russ is a sert Of attaehe TO the store
| occupied by Mr.. Collins, which was recently
| kept by Mr.. P. Hiscox. For at least two
| years Tom has prscticed fishing with great
| success and satisfaction. The scene Of his
| piscatOry exploints is under q storebouse ON
| the wharf, whittier Puss repairs at prone ?
stages Of tide, and after a longer or shorter
period OF patient watching issues forth with a
fnny victim TO his assiduous dexterity. III his
prey is Of customary size he bears it triumph
| antly 10 the store and devours it, in presence
Of whoever may be there, instead Of needing
the cat like procliyity Of his species for q
quiet meal in some sequestered nook In
summer, when his scaly victims are mostly Of
the small mummy chog' class, he swallows
them on the spot; but now that cold weather
supplies frost fish TO his ready paws, he takes
them home, as mentioned and enjoys q warm
atmosphere while disposing Of the proceeds of
his cold expedition Some half dozen sub
jects of bis rapacity frequently find their way
to tee feline nav in the course Of an after
noon. On one occasion the fish caught was q
foot long An experiment was once tried 10
test his behavior when bis fare was taken from
him 1t was bestowed on another cat, and K
it is possible for Puss to express keen sense OF
Injustice, beyond a mere sense Of disappoint
ment, il is certain that Toms demeanor showed
a consciousness that he only was entitled TO
the proceeds Of his provess
Although Puss generally manages to Sc
cure the prey without taking a very extensive
bath, as he strikes nimbly while the fsh is
near the surface, he has so conquered the pro-
verbal aversion Of bis species 10 water that a
good portion Of his person often gives token OF
aquatic exercise A scuttle in the floor Of the
L - a.
air Of confident habitude with which he pur-
sues his profitable sport The initiation Of
Tom into his singular mode Of life was Who'll
ly voluntary, and grew out Of the frequenting
Of the spot IN question by fish attracted by
the deposit Of Offal there. His achievements
as fisherman are not at the expense Of his
value as an enemy Of qusdrupedal vernin,
for the death sgonies Of many an unlucky
mouse and rat attest his vigilant surveillance
over their haunts. As Tom does not, and
never can, partake Of all the natural Joys OF
gregariOus cathood, be lie, like others Of the
same class. cynically inimicsl 10 his kindred,
and sharply repels their society in a striking
manner. Who shall say that his deprivation
Of domestic pleasures, and his constitutional
arrangement from his fellows, may not have
q great share in occssioDing his departure
from the hydTOphobic instincts Of bis kind,
and his aptitude for the solitary avocation Of q
fisherman
The above facts are within the knowledge
Of many Of our citizens, but as they will in
terest some Of our distant readers we publish
them, in order that Puss may obtain due credit
fu- his honest and resolute method Of catering
10 kind Of appetite which is almost a mania
with catdo;n a. large, though the subject CT
our sketch affords the only instance we know
Of where this craving for fish, the extent of
which seems unnatural, in view Of the natural
infreq uency of its qualification, has inaited
cat to disregard feline antipa'h 81 com
pletely.'