Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-08-14
A Sporting Expedition. -


go, We dispersed ourself around Trimbelle and
River Falls, seeking trout and prairie chick
ems, with primary desire to procure their
demise, and a secondary and subsequent res.
olution to eat them afteiw wards; SO that in this
respect, 1--WE trust not in shy other) we literal
ly initiated the example of that not very rspu-
table parsonage. who is said to be going about
seeking something to devour.
ARMED and equipped as the law (ofsports.
men) directs" and attached TO buggy, which
in turn was attached to SMITHS bay ponies,
we started for the Trimbelle woods. And here
let tribute of respect be paid 10 those ponies.
They are prolific in the horse vrtues-patient
and plucky, full of resignation aud resolution.
Peace TO their names, by which word we mean
not the long hair OH their Frenehy necks, but
such slight shadow Of sentient soul as
moral and respectable pony may be supposed
to possess.
Passing over the journey, which was over
land mainly, we arrived at Trimbelle, and
searched for bait. This securing bait is inter
esting business. Worms, grubs AID grasshop-
pe.s assume an Importance at such time
which is rarely accorded to them. You feel a
serene satisfaction in securing Il sedate, mid
dle-aged we'll developed worm-the pleasure
deepens when you seize a real old paternal
grub--it amounts TO little short OF ecstncv
when YOU capture fat, sleek and rob: st grass
hopper, and as you lDpale him on the hook
and see him beckoning W it'll his hind legs to
the reluctant trout you almost love him for
the zeal he rnanifess TO secure your success.
Just here it is proper to say that many anna
teur fisherman do not understand the theory
of the art y professional fisher of course
wishes to catch fish.-it is his trade, but
spo:tman should be more Indifferent about
the matter. Yol should take it leisurely.
keep an eve out for the beauty of scenery
keep your ear open to the musical murmur OF
of forest and stream. think of Matilda Ann
and other pleasant things. and then when you
catch trout, you are joyed at the unexpectea
SUCCESS, and by degrees yon become interested
in the sport. until unconciously it al serbs all
your attention. One of our friends was lead
ing broker in Chicago, aad pitched into The
trout business fashion. The other Icing a
hardware dealer naturally took little mora
! time, and though Broker caught tie most
fish, Hardware ana ourself insisted that our
theory W as the most ptlfect. Wheu you once
sc. interested. trotting is eager spot. Y on
are Liable to have bite any hour. on drop
into some place as mere matter Of form, and
almost before yonr bait touches the stream,
there is a swift sudden ruah in the water. a
CLEAN of golden specklcs. a bite tlat has an
electric thrill in it, jerk, and the most beau
tiful creature that God ever made lies painting
in the grass. Again the process takes time
and patience. You see favorable eddy in
the stream, and stealthily creep up and throw
in your bait You work quietly and sllillfrlly
on the assumption that half pound trout is
under that bank. Again and again the bait
float temptingly past him. till at last his sus-
picons are lulled and he takes it. How your
eyes snap, and the plant pole bends under the
struggle, but he is safely hooked. and surely
but slowly comes III out of the wet" You
have 5naiicd him.
But enough of trout-a word about chicken
shooting. These bipeds are commonly hunt
ed by dog and shot with gun. You find
the chickens by watching the dogs tail. When
he stops. and his whole body quivers. and eve
ry hair stands erect. and the tail assumes u
true perpendicular. you may reckon fun is
nigh. STEADY you say, and urge him on,
STEADY" steady - W-s-c-h-h - bang -
VS. h-h-bang-go the chickens and the
guns. Perhaps you have killed some, and
perhaps not. 1t depends great deal how
the hollow irons ere held The experienced
shooter leisurely takes down his two birds;
the inexperienced one, gazes in amazement at
each rising bird. and finally fires without TAX
ing any particular aim. 1t is fen for the
sportsmen; how the birds like it we cannot
say, but in the shooting season. prairie chick
ems have no rights that white man is boul..
to respect"