Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-09
Clipper versus ,,rasshonper.
HOW COL. RANKIN AND CAPT BCBB seTrLKD A
LITTLE DISPUTE ABOUT BASS BAIT.
New York SIM

dUW COls hAShiN AND CAfT. BEBB SETTLED 4
LITTLE DISPUTE ABOUT BASS BAIT.
New York SUM-
When Col Hall Rankin and his friend Capt,
Sam Bubb, Of this city, go out after black bass
they are never obliged 10 buy mackerel for sup
per when they come back. They fish together
from the same boat. The other day they an
chored their canoe IN the Susquehanna lust
above the. Williamsport dam. The Colonel
baited his hook with clippers. The clipper IL
an insect two inches long, 1t has leg3 all over
itself and head like clawhammer.
The clipper Is found under stones In running
water at this time of the year. When you
catch one you must grab it right back OF the
head, or 1t viii close on your finger like a lob.
ster. In the early summer the clipper comes
OUT on shore and pair OF big wings is added to
its other accoutrementS Then it flies around
nights like horned toad On wings, and feeds
On raltmen, boatmen, and night fishermen. 1t
Is called the helgramiteN By people who get
chubs In the Delaware have a way OF batting
the clipper that is unique. The clipper Is nearly
black. The club fisherman puts the point OF
his hook lear the head or the bait, and, by a
deft movement OF the hand, shOves it through
the clipper and turns the bait inside out Then
IL Is as white as snow, and looks like Dig WOOD
grub. The club likes the clipper served In this
way, and won't take 1T In any other style. For
bass, though, it Is hooked in It's own natural
beauty, and Is killing bait.
The Colonel baited with clippers. Capt. Bubb
tempted the bass with selected graSshopper5-
They had each landed half dozen OF fine oass.
Suddenly a rousing good bite came to each of
them at the same time. The Colonel played his
fish with all the skill Of the finished angler.
The Captain put his through ali the necessary
manCeuyres with the hand of an expert. Then
they both landed their fish. There was only
one. The Colonel5 hook was through its upper
jaw. The Captains hook was buried deep in its
under jaw.
'.Too bad he happened to run against your
hook, said the Colonel. ut put you to good
deal OF unnecessary labor"
q can't see how that bass ever managed to
get near that bait OF yours" said the Captain.
Its enough to scare shark into fits"
,o You don't mean to say that you claim this
the Colonel In great surprise. "Why, any
school boy knows that bass will take clipper
before anything else. and goes for grasshop-
course"
He did, eh?" said the Captain, getting mad
Vel, say that he took the grasshopper first
and he Is my fish,"
The Captain tore the Coloners hook out OF
the bass S mouth, and threw Ii as far from the
boat as he could. Then he proceeded to loosen
!ae llsh 1ron his own hook. The Colonel grab
bed him.
'Let that bass Alone" he cried, "or I'll throw
you out of this boatIr
Capt. BuDb took hold of Col. Rankin. They
had little wreStle. Then the Colonel found
himself flying through the air. He landed
something like twenty feet from the boat. He
disappeared beneath the surface. He came up
half q minute or so afterTard alongside OF a
pole that was driven into the bottom of the
A4'NI 90 tiC oOcOo W W II SUuCh OIG
OF the water about three feet. The Colonel
grabbed hold or 1t. When he got the water out
OF his eyes and mouth and ears, he looked
around. Capt. Bubb was fishing away, as If
nothing had occurred to divert his attention
from the spot. The water was very deep, and
the colonel couldn't swim stroke. The Cap
tain never looked around to see what had be-
come OF him. The pole was timber, and the
colonel had great difficulty in supporting
himself by 1t. After seeing Capt Bubb haul In
half a dozen big bass, and feeling that he
Couldn't depend on the pole much longer, Col.
Rankin said:
81 say, Cap, there amt much better bait for
pass than grasShOpperS. Is there?r
should say pot,' said the Captain, without
looking around.
''some folks use clippers; but I'm blamed if
see how they catch anything IL there's grass
hoppers around" said the Colonel.
Il neither" replied Capt Bubb.
A pause.
''say. Cap" SAID Col. Rankin. 'that was
deyil1sh nice bass you caught just as went 10
swimming. How much dye think it'll
weight"
Then the Captain looked around.
Better come In, hadn't yOu Colonel?, he
asked fnnocently. Its about time to go
home
The Colonel said he guessed he would. Capt.
Bubb pulled up the anchor. roWed out to the
pole, and pulled the Colonel in. Then, having
enough bass they went home.
Coz. Rankin says he never thought much OF
home bait fishing anyhow and that he won't 90
after bass again TIL next summer when he can
take EN- with fly.