Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-06-11
A DISQUISlTTON ON FISH AMI
FISHERMEN.

MR.. EDITOR moro 10 crafty sew
eral friends with whom have enjoy.
ed genuine sport "angling in the Sus-
quehanna' than to display any superi.
or knowledge OF the art, or to attempt
to instruct any but the uninitiated,
write you "what | know about fish.
ing"
From time whereof the memory Of
man runneth not to the contrary, the
sports of the rod and line, and the
"casting of the net into the sea-" have
entertained and employed men of all
nations, tongues and kindred. Some
trace the winding Of the "babbling
brook" Or lay softly at anchor on the
silver lake, purely because they have a
positive genius that renders il to them
the most thrilling and delightful spot
on earth. Others, while they are not
entirely devoid Of pleasurable sensa-
ton, still in the main pursue the "fin-
ny tribe" more for dimes than delight ;
and there are yet moro who fish
for living and groan under the hard
1 Il
of this sport are not only entitled to
the claim of great antiquity, but also
to high responsibility. as four OF the
Apostles at least are known by all
readers of the Bible TO have been able
and successful patrons of the art, and
and ever since the days of John, Peter,
Andrew. and James. the best of men
have eagerly sought the pleasing OK.
citement of the arod and line" as an
honorable relaxation from the fatigues
of study and perplexities of business,
and the tolls of state. True there
NAV be found some "Mrs. Fitzfolysp
to cry down, and miserable time-serv-
ers to sneer at this time.honored sport,
but these unphilosophicaI discontented
spirits never have an inspiration above
disqualification. and would have cru
cited our Savior had they lived in
those davs.
The true angler is not satisfied with
the mere physical pleasure of shook.
ing" "playinp.n and alanding" his vic.
tim /; he studies their nature and habits,
classes their species. and notes their
comparative usefulness to man. These
and many other things he does while
nwaiting for n bite5 which he treas.
ures up or imparts to his fellow.sports.
man. the animated. and the crest of
mankind The peaceful iovousness
that floats In his untrameled brain pro.
duced by the soothing ripple of the
waves or the gentle m1rmnrinO of tho
brook dispels all vulgar care and rem.
ders him a true specimen of the ono.
bIest work of Cod and we are no Ion.
ger surprised that asucb as these were
Chosen 10 do the GREAT worl, of asnread.
ing clad tidines Of great ioy to ali man.
kind He would be at peace with
all the world. He feels the pbilantbro.
pist and all the promptinps Of bis heart
are rood Here in our dav we find
many of our wisest and best men Of
every callipg and profession devoted
followers Of The immortal Walton.
1t il a great mystery TO many peo.
ple how anv real pleasure can be- found
In the solitary and uncertain nursnits
of the angler They cannot see how
il ia that the true sportsman will with
the utmost cheerfulness of counte.
nance. and enthusiasm sparkling in his
eve throw his line aninetv and nineu
times TO get a nrise'' at the bundredtb.
Well no one can sec how Il il Il il
something TO be felt, and it would be
as easy for the meanest man on earth
TO become a pbilantbropist as for an
unsocial, unfeeIing, heartless man to
become a disciple Of old Izaak.
With us the black bass is the gen
eral fayorite. in fact the only fish that
affords real sport for the aneler-its
matcbless symmetry of form great
muscular strength, and the grace and
ease with which he oroams the waters
make him an object OF great admira.
ton. They are said to rush up the
river in flood time and when the wa
ters subside, they gather in deep holes
eddies. and foaming falls, caused by
some obstructing rock or snag. (which
are never mistaken or overlooked by
the adept) where the cast should be
made and repeated with q good deal
of patience and perseverance,. They are
rather a sbv. auick-siphted. watcbful
fish, hence the "holes" where the bait
ia TO be thrown should be cautiously
approacbed. The tackle TO be used
can be selected to suit the fancy Of the
angler, the nature Of the ground, and
the circumstances OF the case "
generally; tho well.selected reed, or
species of bamboo pole; fine. even line
Of silk, linen, or hair. For a hook, get
tho largest sized Carlisle or Limerick
trout hooks. (or ask at once for a good
sized bass hook at any OF. the stores
where tackle is kept for sale) with
white wire or triple hair snoods. For
bait you may take the angle.worin,
grassboppers, Gin season) the white
grub. the tail, head, or whole of small
minnow, a piece cut from the caudal
fin and the belly of chub. The Dob.
son. better known here by the name
of hellgramite, hoiach, or nipper, seems
Ito possess OF times peculiar attractions
for the bass. lfa five minnow is used,
he should be hooked in the fleshy part
of the back under the dorsal fin toward
the tail, bringing the point out forward
OF the fin, but care should be taken not
to kill the minnow nor curl him out Of
shape, and, if hooked in this way, will
live and play for hours.
When the black bass is fairly hook
ed, great care, Judgment, and skill are
requisite with the use Of rod and line
TO play him safely to shore The mo-
moment he darts away with the hook
and finds himself captured, he makes q
mighty splash, and with a half sum.
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