The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-11-16

When tired Of bank fishing We re-.
paired To the big canoe and water, and
began cruise Of exploration which
disclosed indications that we thought
could discount the pools from which
We had taken many fine, gsmy fish.
A large rock emerging from the wa.
ter near a hank, on which we're half q
dozen saplings, which had been used
for ro.s, encouraged us to "set out,
while We walked up the river to resi-.
dents well Of limestone water, at
which we proposed spreading lunch.
We found that the reported distance
had been computed by the coon skin
standard, which is to measure with
the hide aud throw in the tail, and
Mack was the individual TO both pro-
pose the walk, and before the house,
was sighted, to urge that We turn
back but that was one Of Hig's chances
to pay an instalment upon the debt he
owed US for opposition to his various
propositions. and he determinedly
pushed ahead, crying, "Come on,
come onl" and we YEARLY came.
Three, instead Of one-half mile, were
walked before we found the house
but a quaf from the cold broken
bucket which hung in the well, made
our hearts glad. and the addition to
our supply of pitcher Of cold sweet
milk, on which the cream remained,
and a plate of brittle onions that had
been pulled from the bed that morn
ing and placed in vessel Of water,
contributed largely to the inner.man
comforts. Realization that we were
nearly two miles from about one hun
dred dollars worth Of fishing tackle.
without a picket guard, stimulated us
to a speedy return. Every thing was
just as we left it, except that one smell
had been hopelessly entanglcd by the
minnow, and was sacrificed to spec
dy change of base. We moved quiet
" over a sunken drift, and hooked
FIVE salmon within fifteen minutes
without succeeding in landing one.
Hig brought one ofabout three feet in
length plainly to view upon the sur
face, in his efforts to prevent entangle-
ment in the network of logs We had
discovered to exist few feet beneath,
but his rig was too light for the strug-
gle, and the fish gained his haunts
and his liberty. 1t was disheartening
but we fingered, despite conviction
that to lead even a three-pounder into
a landing net there, was impossible.
After halfan-hour's waiting in vain for
renewal of the fun, Mack requested
to he put ashore, that he might find a
place where chances were equal, and
Hig and I resolved upon adoption Of
the same, except we put Mack out
and stuck to the canoe. We counted
ourselves in luck, for scarcely had we
located before Hig captured valiant
pound-and-half bass, and his supposed
whale of the stream had seized my
minnow and darted for the middle Of
the river. | paid out the line till
there was apprehension that the $50
feet would be insufficient, but was
soon relieved of the apprehension by
discovering that he was making back.
The line was cautiously pulled in till
the float popped up within twenty
feet of the canoe, danced about few
moments, and again disappeared, when
Hig exclaimed "a jazz a jack!' from
which dissented. but was puzzled Ia
conjecture what it was. Tightening
on him, vigorous pull imbedded the
hook and the fight began. Hig dropp'
ed his rod, seized the landing net. and
moved to a convenient position Il
give aid, in the meantime offering val
liable advice as to the management Of
what he clearly saw was whopper
Just here must add that my com
panion had given me my first lessons
in angling for game fish, and his ad
vice was recognized as valuable, tho
deemed superfuous from frequent rep
etition.
My nine feet japanese. nine-six'
teenths in diameter at butt, seemed
taxed beyond its capacity to keep him
from the log alongside which lay the
canoe, aud for which the fish was
struggling, but successfully withstood
the strain, though the tip was frequent
ly brought almost in contact with the
butt. Hig still.contended that it was
a jack, hut argued from the compar-
alive sluggishness of his runs that it
could not be. At last he showed him.
self plainly, dropped off the hook, and
disappeared. What was ity An in
fernal channel cat of about three feet
in length.
Hig fell back upon his seat and
roared like menagerie IN spree, till
| was speeches. from confusion, tho
| at first contended that il was large
goggle-eye running with my minnow,