West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-01-25
SMELT-FISHlNG IN MAINE.


The Army OF Sportsmen Encampod on
tho icc--Tho Method of Catching the
Delicate Little Fish-A village of smeIt-
Fishers Flying Before Gale.
''lf any one likes fishing through the
ice with the thermometer ten degrees
below zero and the wind blowing some
times at the rate of twenty-five miles an
hour he can find his ideal sport lust
now on any of the rivers aud inlcts
along the coast OF Maine said Mort
Scott well known in angling circles in
thig city, who returned on Saturday
from weeks fishing for smelt on the
Maine coast ''Smelt-fshing' is now
NJ the best up there, but the weather is
about at is worst At least in the esti-
mat on of the visiting sportsmen il is;
but those native and to the manner
born think il coul int be better. They
don't seem to mind little matter such
as the mercury registering fifteen de-
Erccs below, and to see their tents lifted
from the ice 10y the wind and carried
upward ike balloon is regarded bv
them IS only an episode that adds Zest
and humor TO their enjoyment. When
left there last Thursday it was so cold
that the holes in the ice froze over near
~ aS fast rs they were cut, even with
fires in the tents, and to keep them open
required n little more labor than even
my enthusiasm il the sport could well
overbalancc. But there were scores
of fishermen on the ice when | left, for
the smelt seem to bite better the colder
1t is, and after this month the fishing
gets poorer, the fish moving gradually
10 other quarters.
Establishing through the ice." con-
tinued the speaker, ''does not differ
from the same mode of angling for
pickerel, but the element of uncerta nty
Is unknown in the former sport You
may fish all day sometimes for pickerel
and then be obliged to buy enough to
save yourself from gong home
'Skunked'; but when you cut your holes
In the ice and put in your lines for smelt
you are Just as certain of being kept
busy pulling ont fish rs YOU are that
you bait your hook. A smelt isn't as
bic fish a n pckerel, but he's n game
fighter, and there is an excitement
about tending the lines that pickerel-
hshlng does not create. The people up
IN Maine look upon smelt-fishing as the
sport OF the year, and they come from
miles about the country to en- ov IT,
Even the Indians from the far-back
country tramp into the coast during tho
season to exercise their skill i'm lurinp
smelt The tackle for smelt fishing Is
very simple. The line is an ord nary
stout linen cord. about four feet long. To
one en- of this is attached p zee of lead
about three inches long and the size and
shape OF three-cornered Tile This
is called iile-sinker. To swivel in
the o her end of the sinker is tied n
pink-colored smell, made of common
hsh-line, 10 which is attached a hook
NJ l.. in, g.
The smell is two feet long The water
acting on the triangular siuker, hung
ON It's swivels, keeps it constantly twirl-
ing about, and the bait, which is an
ugIy-lookng insect called the clam
worm, is always motion. Each fish
erman viii have out an average Of four
Lines, in rs many different holes. If he
seeks the enjoyment OF the sport under
the protection and shelter of tent. or
house, as the natives call them. If
he, like many Of tie local anglers, is
Drawing the elements with the sole inten-
ton of extracting profit from the catch.
and dances and trots about on the ice
regardless Of eXtraneous aid, TO combat
tie wind and irOst, he is likely T. have
ten or a dozen lines TO care Tor. spread
over an area q hundred feet around;
au IL the fish are biting good he will
haze but little time 20 think of the cold.
rs be VIII 5g kept busy hauling up his
lines and keeping the holes open.
at has only been within few Years
that such a thing as smclt-fishing under
shelter was known. The fs ermen had
ct.er to stand ont unprotected against
The gales and storms that seem To- be
Kept 'on tap along he coast for use az
snv moment or pull up their lines and
20 home. 10 be sure. they could pile
up walls OF ice and tnatch them with
pine DoUghs bu' ~ il frequently is nee.
e--Hrt iOt the fisherman 10 change his
i"eHjOu and the ice barrie dos could
Iot vol be taken along the building Of
them was generally time and legor
thrown away. ~ the way. that is a
aHr " NJ mslt-h-a.ny. The fish
iars b. BITING 30 Tat Won viii be kept
con .aIuy hopping from one hole b.
aI...or iJ land your catch Suddenly
our Up-ups VIII cease to tip The
-.n-tH Iare taken 10 into their heads
Chat the locality is not sale Tor them.
a.' ..Fe moved Vol, DOB case Of
tl.- Kind, as said. the angler
would nod bis ice and pine boughs
Gloss and "a would have 20 desert
..ew 'y hunt up TIE spot ~ wh ch
ID" h.H had changed their lase.
.h. one season nIau named job -ccor
~ up from Boston Co. try smnlt-
-..'Hg TIE tried 10 fJr 20 dag end
if..a one foot and both ear. and
.u wont aHav Huf Doe didn't 70
.'H" Il' "a.t 10 Belfast and bad q
".p. % frame. .a f,c gara,
N t.fn. III procured
".a canvas and ..l t.r frame
..1 leaving aI % .unr for ...r.
Emo i.ar. Du r'...r Nhe. She