The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-07-12
Written for the Watchman
COVER THE BAR.n

Gentle reader, have you ever tried
the fur Of fishing" some ten or fifteen
miles from the city-beyoud Fort Sum.
ter-beyond the bar-Ous where the
water is blue, and from Eve to ten ia
thoms deep? There are in our city, as
in all other cities lying upon the sea, a
large number of men who are called
Fishermen" These men make fishing
q business. To them there is nothing
picturesque in sail boats-romautic in
fishing 2arties, or exciting in catching
fish. 1t is all dull, hard, and unpoctic
life-full of disappointment, frequently
of peril, and not often ofmuch profit.
We are not of that "crowd." We are
no. professional fishermen. Neverthe-
less, We love fish, and We love to catch
them, and We would frequently try to
catch them If it we're not for "circum.
stances" We have done something in
this way in the country, in various
places and modes, aud where "circum-
stances" we're not SO disagreeable as
when we go "over the bar" And have
met with success. That is, We have be.
come very tired, hungry and vet, and
have captured from Fifty to one hun
dred trout-brisht, beautiful, sparkling
brook trout-takeu BY following noun
tain stream for miles, down trough
rayines and valleys, over rocks aud
among cascades. Now on the mossy
bank and anon to the waist in the rush.
ing water. Here casting the line just
at the edge of the ripple, and then
letting it drop carefully into the deep
pool beyond the juttiug erag. This is
healthy enjoyment. 1t braces the nerves,
strengthens the muscles-expaDds the
chest, drives away the megrims, and
gives one taste Of nature in her lev eli.
ness aud purity.
We have had other experiences
On the small but beautiful lakes Of the
West aud North, re have "cast our
lines" Would you like a pickerell of
twenty pounds weight? ? Are you willing
to go with little party to catch one !?
Well, jump into the cars, after having
taken ticket for St. PauPs. Having
safely arrived, take look at the "falls,"
the "saw mill' and the "bridse," aud
then go up to MiumapOtes. Stay day
or two, and then take the St. Cloud
R. Il. and run up ten. twenty or thirty
miles-for wherever you stop, you will
find lake, filed with fsh-a gem Of
beauty in beautiful land.
We will visit "Miuuetouga"-the
"broad water" In with you--iDto this
little boat. 1t is furnished with an
oarsmap, lines, bait-all you want
He will row US to the best places for
trouting Over with your lines. How
the bright bait skits on the water
Halo. What is that? Hold hard
you will be overheard. What did you
jump up for? Now play him. Shade
Of isaac Walton but he must weigh
fifty pounds Be carciul--play out
your line, when be dashes off in that
way. Now head him towards you. How
he pulls. Well, put the gaff into him.
Here he is. Why, after all your fuss,
he is only FIVE pound fish! However,
that is good fun. 4 friend 10 the next
boa, has beaten you-he has secured a
fourteen pounder.. What monstrOus
FISH! Nearly eighteen inches in cir
cunfereuce? Aud in other waters we
have taken trout-that prince among
fresh water fsh-shy yet brave, regular
game-up 10 all tricks. viii suap your
Hy befo.e it strikes the water, but if he
is fellow Of weight, will give work
aud excitement enough before you Sc
cure him. If you want "inn" in this
way, 90 to the Adirondack Mountains
for a month, and you will get enough to
last you Tor year.
Last week We vert cover the bar" to
fsh-sll amateurs but one. Our man
"Jo." has followed the sea for living
for twenty years, and has experience.
The remainder Of the party were CON-
paratiyely "raw hands
The owner Of the small yacht, Sallie,
Captain g., is gentleman Of some
practical knowledge Of sailing boats,
and had kindly rendered it to us fox
this occasion. His party consisted OF
himself aud the man "Jo," Mr. h., MF L.
Mr. T. and the Colonel" whose weight
served as ballast. There were some
hard eases in the cOapauy-thoush all
ooula con,rise to keep of lee shore,
unless the breeze vas very :tiff. We
CHARGED 30" rot to 60 beyond Fort