The daily gazette., 1877-08-25
Bass Fishing.
TIE DIARY OF A DAYS EXPERIENCE ON
THE BRANDYwINE.

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THE BRANDYwINE.
AUGUST - 1877.
Having resolved to devote a day to th
bass in the Brandywine; borrowed m
wlfes hernania overskirt and made a ne
TOR catching minnows and crabs for bail
invested in pair of tin pales of differ
ent sizes So that one could be carried il
the other; punched holes in the smalle
one and walked out to Taylor's dam al
ter bait,
On my way out met man coming il
carrying pail that looked like nine
man said bait was scarce out at TAYLOR
and advised me to go to Chester Greek
above tie Water Works.
Went out to Chester Creek, commenc
ed to catch crabs; crab caught me; ther
thought minnows would be the best bait
so scooped up a couple of quarts of mud
and minnows.
Started for house stopping to change
water in pail at every brook; thernome.
ter 80 degrees; no idea the weather wa:
so warm.
Reached house half an hour past tea
time; wife wanted to know what made
my ldSC oO ICu, COlu DcI udI UeGQ WORK
ing in the garden.
Arose two hours earlier than usual
next morning; no breakfast, so took a
cold bite and started for livery stable,
carrying pole, landing net, gum boots,
pail of bait and milk can with ice to hold
fish.
Horse wasn't done eating: had to wait
half an hour.
Got off at last and drove out to Cope's
bridge; found men with fishiAg poles pos.
ted about ten feet apart all along bank OF
creek in Hayes meadows; also observed
notice, "No trespassing allowed under
penalty of law, &C."
Concluded to 60 further down creek;
saw men fishing at Sager's bridge; more
men fishing at Painters; more men fish
i1g at Brinton's; got discouraged with
idea ofdriving all the way down to Will
mington, and seeing vacant space on
bank large enough tor medium sized
man, concluded to hitch and try luck;
all the fences occupied with horses; had
to hitch to wagon wheel.
While getting ready to throw in, man
on left jerked my hat off with his line
and landed it in creek; man on right, very
profane man, said I'd better scare all the
fish away; hadn't seen any jyet to scare.
Opened pail to get bait out; found two
tadpoles and minnow yet alive; rest all
dead
Put one of tadpoles on hook and spit
on bait for luck.
Sat down on bank and decided to take
smoke to pass away time; found had
left my segar case at home; decided l
wouldn't smoke till 1 got home.
Braced myself up to pull out large
bass. cork visibly agitated; cork moving
slowly ly off; tremendous jerk and landed
small turtle of the stinkpot species in
branches of neighboring tree.
Gives one the vertigo to climb tree;
hired small boy to go up after my line;
had to cut it.
Set him again; no more bites; watched
cork intently; begins to get smaller. gets
still smaller, go to sleep; dream of catch
ing large bass, which falls back in creek
with loud splash; awake suddenly; crawl
out of creek very wet.
Think this amt good bass day; one
more bait left; find capital place; throw
in and wait for bite.
Cork rapidly going down stream; lose
sight of cork; pull in quickly; tremendous
weight at other end of line; can't get his
head above water to see what it IS; fast
on root; breaks, leaving hook, sinker,
leader and ten feet of silk line at bottom
of creek.
Look around; no one near; swear for
five minutes; feel better; make up my
mind TO quit; got enough; pick up tackle
and stink pot; start for wagon; find it
gone; walk to West Chester.
Horse and wagon at stable, tied to
other wagon; parties didn't see it till
reaching West Chester; likely story,
etc.
Wife meets me at gate; wants to see
fish; has invited company to supper to
eat bass,
Smear cream on sunburned neck and
nose; go to bed with headache.
Feel too sick to work next day; sit
around on store boxes and tell how many
bass L caught.
Entry in account book:
To loss wages "a days. s...''.'.'... @o.O0
Pa Is for bait. ..'...'.'.''''.'' LOU
New tackle. .'''''''''''''. W
III orse hire. .......'..'.''...'..' 4OO
Paid boy to climb tree. 20
Total. al................'' ''''.''' @ll.Zo
Rv stink not .05
Balance favor bass fishing. .S11.2O
l. WALTON