The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-08-10
HARRY MILLER's STURGEON.

Thirty-four years ago boys who lived
on the shores Of Lake Champlain We're
very fond of catching the big surgeons
that abounded in its clear waters. Not
more so, perhaps, than boys would be
now if fine fish were as plenty and as
easily captured; but then other sports
were not so common in that day, and
fishing had much less competition. Oft
en- six or seven would go out together
with long seines, and some famous
catches they used 10 make.
One spring day several lads about
eighteen years old hauled in splen-
did sturgeon, whose good nature and
intelligence won him quite local fame,
and whose story ought to have been
written long ago.
He was such fine, handsome fellow,
that Harry Miller, a kind-hearted boy who
was fond of pets, determined TO take him
home and try to tame him.
The rest of the party were all willing
to give up their share in the prize, so the
big captive's fate was settled then and
there. Harry took him to his home at
Cedar Point, near Port Henry, and put
him in box which he had sunk in the
water, and fastened to a landing at the
edge of the lake.
The box was about eight feet wide
and thirteen feet long, so that a stur-
geon could have plenty of room, even
il he was over three and half feet long,
and weighed about one hundred and
fifteen pounds, as this one did. Harry
was careful that there should be plenty
of chance for the fresh lake water to
flow all through this novel aquarium,
so that it was always fresh and pure.
He also made door which could be
securely locked, SO that he could take
his pet out when he wished, and yet be
sure that no one would steal him.
The next thing was name, and COM
mon place Tom was chosen, just as il
might be for a horse or a dog. 1t did
not take Tom long to learn his name,
and as he had all the worms, meat and
kitchen scraps he could eat, and was
always treated kindly, he soon grew
very tame and fat He was ready
whenever any one came to feed him,
and when hiss master playfully patted
his sides, he would roll over just rs
roguishly as pet puss might.
A Erenchman who lived near Harry
Millers home was wonderfully skillful
IN training animals, and he persuaded
Harry to let him see what ne could do
with Tom. He found most docile
pupil, and succeeded amazingly, to
HarTy's intense delight. After several
weeks he considered his task accom-
plished, and returned his charge to his
young owner.
Tom was now ready TO do something
practical in return for his master kind
ness; in fact, he had become a real
" sea-horse,' well broken to harness, or
rather to rope, for that is all he needed
to pull boat.
A heavy ring was fastened through
the thick cartilage just behind the dor
sal or back fin, and a stout rope was
snapped into this ring when Tom was
"hitched up" just as rein often IS
into bit.
The other end of the rope was held or
made fast in the boat, so that all one
had to do to have fine ride was to at
tend to the steering. A long pole did
duty for reins, and slap on the water
either side Of Tom would turn him in
the opposite direction.
If he grew lazy, as he sometimes did,
a sharp splash just behind would quick
en- him up. There was never any trou-
bic about getting home after a ride.
just as soon as Tom had a chance to
turn around, he would start straight for
bis box, and swim with all his might
until he was once more snugiy housed.
While Tom was being trained, he was
allowed only about six feet of rope. but
after Harry felt sure that he could trust
his pet, he let him 90 twenty or thirty
feet from the boat, and instead of short
rides he used to stay out as long as three
or four hours.
just think, boys, of going fishing with
fish to do the sculling! Naturally Tom
was kept quite busy towing fishing
parties, and he worked all the better
when he had plenty to do. A vacation
of two or three days would make him
behave like q colt the next time he went
out.
At first he would rush OF at a great
rate, drawing two men in a good-sized
boat nearly as fast as one could row,
but he would soon cool down until he
hardly wanted to stir at all.
Work every day was what Tom needle
to make him willing and steady, and IL
he had it he was a model Of good be-
havior.
OF course a great many other boys
thought il would be fine to have a trained
fish, and many surgeons were caught aud
petted, but all in vain. None OF them
could be induced 20 work, aud Harry
Miller's Tom remained without a riyal,
the pride OF his master, and the envy of
other boys.
Most of the surgeons which boys
tried TO train killed themselves by stay
ing too long under water when they
were taken out into the lake, and others
Dined away and died before any prog
ress could be made.
For three years Tom did his young