Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-09-23
HE CAUGHT A LOON.
A Bird That Proved as Strong as FIFTY
Pound Pike and Good Deal Livelier.

From Or6SU anu
Ny old friend, whose remarkable
CATCH of lost fishing rod at Sault
Ste. Marie was published some time
ago, calls upon me frequently at my
office, and when he finds me disengaged
is glad to talk with me about his more
than half a century's experience as q
fisherman. His "reminiscences are al
ways entertaining from their extended
and varied character, and particularly
so on account of the pleasant and
quaint manner in which they are re-
lated. Here is an incident he related
few days ago. It's another remark
able catch:
GA good many years ago, when our
rivers and streams afforded plenty OF
excellent fishing, before their waters
were polluted by the sewage of the
cities and poisoned by the refuse from
hundreds of manufacturing establish
ments and oil refneries as they are
now-mind you, contrary to the law,
too, Notwithstanding our state fish
commission and the fish and game
protective societies organized in every
town and city-Christy A. and Billy
E. and myself went to Lowell, on the
Mahoning, to troll for large white sal
mon and pike. I never fish with those
murderous spoons, as they call them,
or artificial minnows with gangs of
hooks on them, which lacerate and
tear the Jaws off more fish than are
captured by lazy, unsportsmanlike
fellows with them. | bait a single
hook with a real minno7w or a club,
and with a light rod and suitable
al a1o rY1y- 1,a
fish theirs.
from Billy F., and we were having
pretty good luck, when Billy had not
a nibble. He became tired and thirsty,
besides wanted to have a smoke, but
couldn't find a match to light his pipe.
He had been fishing along a rocky
point-a frst-rate place it was, too,
for big fellows. His bait was a fine,
lively club, and he did not like to lose
it, so he cast it out as far into the
river as he could and stuck the end
of his rod into cleft in the rocks, and
then started up to town for refresh
ments. He had not been gone long
when a loon came swimming down
stream, and dove and rose up again
in front of US. I remarked to Christy,
that the loon was feeding, and If it got
down a little further it might find Bill
Tvs bait. Sure enough, when it next
came up it had the bait IN its bill. 1t
made a great rush when 1t felt the
hook, ierked the rod into the water
and started away with it at great
speed, the water flying from the reel
five feet in the air, SO fast was it going.
Christy took the oars, got into the
bow Of the boat, and we went in pur-
suit Of the loon. He would dive, come
up for air, then 60 down again, and so
on, but for some reason could not
steer well, tacking hither and thither.
The water flying from the reel always
showed US his position, and by making
crosscuts we gained upon him, and at
last were near enough for me to catch
the rod. Then I had sport. The game
was as strong as fifty pound pike
and a deal Gvelier, and called into
play all my skill to saveit. The chase
continued for thirty minutes, the loon
rising and diving and splashing and
struggling to break away, and we had
to make for shore.
"When I got on land began to reel
in; there were about $50 feet of line
out, and when the line was shortened
enough, we could see the loon in the
clear water, and were surprised at it's
length, and observed how it used it's
wings under water just as in flying. At
last he became wearied, and we were
enabled to get the landing net under
him and lifted him out. Then we
found the true state of affairs. The
bird had taken the bait by the middle,
and when ne bit in two the hook
slipped and caught in his shoulder in
front of one of his wings, not in the
mouth at ALL That's why he had
such strength He was not much hurt,
and could breathe freely, and conse-
quently gave a long and gamy fight.
What should we 90 with him? We
concluded to tie him up and take him
home for the proof of our exploit. A
looms legs stick out behind, you know
they can't stand up like goose, and
we had considerable trouble in secur-
ing our captive, as we finally did, to q
seat in the boat. [ forgot to say that
a great crowd of people came down
from the town to see the fun while 1t
was going on and bets were even on
loon orfishermen. Wegot three cheers
when we had gained the victory.
eve then began fishing again, and
everything went along nicely for awhile,
till the loon took advantage of thetirst
opportunity it had by jabbingits sharp
bill with much feelinginto very sensi-
tive part OF Billy's anatomy just as
he leaned forward to take a long pull
and strong pull on the oars. With
a cry Of mingled pain and terror Billy
threw himself forward, falling into the
bottom Of the boat, dropped the oars,
and very nearly capsized the crew
Some moments elapsed before either
OF US took in the situation.
'sWhen we did and quiet and equi-
ibrium were restored, a council of war
was held. 1t was agreed that the fight
had been alike creditable to both par
ties-the killed and wounded were
eoual-and it was therefore decided to