The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-05-17

connection with pike? 1t unfortunately
happens that if there is one subject
about which l know less than any
other ii is angling. NV experiences as
a fisherman are limited to the fact that
when | was boy of eleven, or there
abouts, | spent all my available pocket
money (three -and-sixpence, | think it
was) in brand-new rod and line. |
used it perseveringly for about a week,
but not having caught anything lex
cept colds) felt that it was locking up
capital to no purpose, and accordingly
snapped it away to another boy for
eighteen pence and a dead squirrel.
What use | intended to make of the
squirrel don't remember, but l know
that was the price.
The above having been my first and
only experience in the fishing line Ono
joke is Intended, the subject is far too
painful to be treated with levity), it will
be readily understood that my knowl-
edge of the art was, to say the least,
elementary. However, one point was
now clear. had caught my monster
fish by spinning (whatever that might
mean), and spinning | must stick to
l felt that l was now master soi
details. The pike was twenty-four
pounds in weight; he was caughi
at Tenbury; and he was caughI
by spinning. Secure in this knowl
edge, | sailed forth with head erect
feeling that [ could not now very wei
be caught tripping. But pride come
before a fall Almost the first persq
l met was an old acquaintance. JAG,
Broderip. ''Hullo, Jones'" he So.
haven't seen you since you caught that
big jack"
at wasn't jack" replied, ''itwas
a pike"
"Well, pike is a jack, q" he rejoined,
'isn' t it?" l began to stammer out
something in reply, when he continued:
Il forgot, by the way, you swell sports
men only speak of four FOUNDERS and
such small fry as jack. tapologize for
abiding to your big fish so disrespect-
fully, but / assure you it was quite I'M
intentional. BY the way, how did you
catch him? Live bait, SUPPOSE"
olive bait, of course" | said. l
hadn't q notion on the subject, but as
he seemed so cock-sure, thought it
better not to contradict him. "Spin-
ming, you know
':Spinning," he exclaimed, "with
live bait That's novelty, isn't it?"
"We1l, | believe it isn't exactly gen
eral," | said modestly.
IF you say it, of course it must be
the thing to do. l shall note that as a
wrinkle. But l should think it was
rather awkward to work. If it isn't a
secret, how many hooks do you have on
your fight?"
The question obviously implied more
than one. 80, about two," l said,
timidly.
1.-TWO hooks only! All, two triangles,
you mean. Whose flight do you use,
then? 'Pennell's,' or the Thames or
the Francis, or something of your
OWN"
"Well, to tell the truth" (Which it
certainly wasn't ga little arrangement
of my own.
something special, Ell? We'll, I sup
pose these are professional secrets, so |
mustn't pump you too much. BY the
way, it was at Tenbury, | think, the
event came of. Now, whereabouts is
Tenbury?"
This was a poser. Tenbury might
have been in Owyhee, for anything 4
knew. Twas obliged to make le;fpif'
the dark.
80! Tenbury, you know. Dow
Berkshire way"
Berkshire, is it? 1 thought it muA
have been Tenbury in Worcestershire
There is aTenbury in Worcestershire, /
am pretty sure. Tenbury in Berkshire,
Ell? Good fishing there, | SUPPOSED"
pretty fair" | said, with the air of
a man who didn't think anything under
twenty-pounder worth mentioning,
and at the same time making mental
memorandum to look up the geography
of Tenbury without delay. II must ask
you to excuse me now, for I'm in des-
perate hurry. have an appointment
at the Taxing Office. Good morningr'
He wished me Good morning, look
ing, however, rather huffy at my abrupt
dismissal, and | went into q stationer's
to buy the A B 9 Guide. | found that
Tenbury was in Worcestershire, and de-
termined to stick to that county in an
swering future questions. | met three
or four more acquaintance that after
noon. All of them were full of my big
fish, and showed a disgusting appetite
for details. | answered their queries as
well rs | could, but | felt that | was
getting deeper and deeper in the mire
at every step, and that | must manage
to acquire little more knowledge on
the subject.
On my way back to the Office bought
two or three treatiSeS on fishing; but |
had barely had time to open them when
Il valued country client, Mr.. Culpepper.
came in. He had important business
to discuss, and was compelled to leave
town again the next morning; so, to
economic time, as it was nearly nv
hour for going home, l invited him to
dine with me en- tamile. We walked
home together, and dinner was half
over when he suddenly said:
''By the way, Jones, that was ire
mendous catch of yours down Tenbdry'
way-that big pike, eh?"
My wife looked up surprised, for she
had heard nothing of my apocryphal
achievement.
80, nothing particular" | said, try
ing to turn the conversation; ''the
thing has been much exaggerated.
Nothing in it, | assure you"
E3"All very well for you, my dear fell
low. | suppose you are such sports
NaNn hat L. Al. 4