Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-11
FIsRY FACTS.
Ajax with a Representative River
Fisherman.
A Rich Field for the Cultivation
Of the PhiIanthrOpist.

Rambling along the bank of the
river below the bluffs Of Fort Picker
ing. yesterday evening, a news hunter
and a companion stumbled upon a
queer little structure, whose purpose II
was at first difficult to guess. At the
foot Of one of the ~ruggedest bluffs
four forked sticks stuck in the ground
at the corners of a space three feet
square, supported half a dozen barrel
slaves and a piece Of old straw mat
ting, the whole forming a rather u
satisfactory shelter. Under the
rude shed, covered by a plank,
sat a bucket from which emanated
an odor, composed of equal
parts of atmospheric Limberger, sewer
gas and burnt glue. About the
strange habitation were scattered a
number Of tin cans, fish bones and
rags. AT one side was a huge log,
which had evidently furnished many
a cheerful blaze.
II wonder" remarked the young
man alluded to, IF there lives a hu-
man being so little removed from
primitive man as to call this homer
| cannot believe that it is the place Of
natural selection of a denizen of
these naughty cliffs, but on the other
hand, | am inclined to think that it is
the forced refuge of some bloody ban
dit, hotly pursued by the blOOdhounds
of the law and" d.
Here comes the bold bandit now"
interrupted the reporter, as q form
was seer stepping nimbly-beeause it
could not step any other way-down
the face of the almost PERCEPTIONS
bluff.
While the romantic young man pro-
ceeded to air his coat tails, the reporter
with an awful responsibility of bis
duty to the public, frightened his era
vat to keep his heart out Of his mouth,
and got out his note book to interview
the alleged robber.
us this your homer was the first
question.
Hit air. the gentleman with the
ginger cake complexion responded.
What do you do for a liying2'
"Feesh.p
What kind?"
Buffalo and cat"
They are animals, not fish," OBJ.
jeeted the reporter.
II ketches EN- wild a hook and line,
all de same"
And what does that bucket con-
tain?p
"Skrimp bait Istretch a hoop in de
mouf Of a sack, sprinkle in a leetle
bait and hauls in de animalculum. |
feesh Eid de skrimps."
do YOU catch a fish for every
shrimp"
Not BY a jug full Dey's powerful
KNOWN dis season"
DO you find a market for all you
can catch?p
Never fail. sab. Isells EN- to de
dealer. an he sells EN- to de boardin'
house keeper, who tells de folks at de
table how awful 'spensive red snapper
is desc days. But dem young catfish
is de best dat hips, to my notion"
Does your family share this domi-
Gle with yOu2"
Nav sir"
"0f at the springs, eh?"
Not much. Dey's up OAR on de bluff
waitin' for some o dis feesh now, and
as he prepared to remove the cover
from the aromatic bucket, the inter
viewer departed. E~xtrieating his
companion from his hiding place under
an inverted dugout the Ianble was
continued along the river bank and
numerous fishermen we're interviewed
The principal conclusion reached was
thatsomethingOutg to be done for the
Rnelioration Of the condition Of these
degraded beings. They live in rude
huts, some built under the bluff, Others
supported b. piles above the water.
while yet others float upon its surface
and can be padded about from place
% place. These novels can not be
aid 70 be furnished at all; all the
domestic arrangements are Of the
rndsst character. A glance reveals
Sretchedness, 9Th and grovelling
poverty. About many of these places
children are to be seen clad in rags
which barely suffice to cover their
nakedness, their language as foul as
their persons. SslloE, sharp visaeed
and vicious. they are pitiable proto.