Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-05-07
BIG FISH.
1ho Spring-Tims Yarns Of q Fair
mont Reporter.
Catching a Pike Seven Feet Long, and
Weighing 100 Pounds Hooking
- Fifteen Foot Whale in
Marion County
Waters.

The last issae Of the Fairmont Index con
| tanned the following Ssh story, which strikes
US as being a very tair eaort-for hrst At
tempt:
The recent catching Of some very fine
fish in the Monsngahela at this plscs has
revived "reminiscences of big 6sh and bag
fish stories of the long, long ago. Fsrty
yearssgo or more the Paulsley mill stood
on tie Palatine side of the river, and sp.
posite Fairnont whose its Old moss-covesed
wheel echoed TO the hills from the action ct
the waters. But that good old structure
long since succumed' to the rsvsges OF
imp, azd The new structure OF Springer u
Barnes now occupies the site Bat this is
not the Ssh story. Nearly hale century
aeo--in lS40-Mr. M. ". Raymond, Of this
place, was fishing on the sand bar just IN
front of the mill, at which poant for
several days huge fish had been snap
ping the bait from the hook as fast as
thrown into the water. This, as above
stated, had been going on for sore time,
but on the oooasisu Of winch we intended
to speak smoker nearly foot long was
procured and bAjted on q. hook and
swung out into the river. 1t turned
and came back 10 the shore as rapidly
as it could, followed by huge mon
ster fish right to the feet Of Mr. Hay
mond. 1t was pike and turned, over
on its side and back in ito efforts to get
the sucker, and did not seem in the
least alarmed at those around. MIR.
Raymond dropped his tackle and grabbed
gaf:hook which he lad with him, and, fas'
tening it in the gills Of the fish, drew Il out
of the water some distance. This was no
sooner done than the fish made o sudden
bound and broke the handle Of the gsff-
hook. At that moment, Mr.. Haymonds
brother Jonathan S Raymond, sprang upon
the fsA and thrust his hand into its gills,
while the former took a position behind
the latter, getting astride the monster
and throwing his arms around
it. Then the fish became desperate, in fact
furious, the men holding on to il, however,
but finally j. bore them both into the river
TO such depth that they were compelled to
let 20 and make their way to the shore.
Not long afterwards this fish was seen float
ing few miles below Morgantown, at New
Gensva. 1t was dead and the gaf
was still in its gills, this no doubt hav
ing caused its death. Being pulled to
the shore it was found to be over seven
feet in length, and was estimated to weigh
more than one hundred pounds Mr.. Hay
mond says he has always regretted that he
did not get that fish. He also says that al
though number Of persons-between forty
and fifty, probably-witnessed that scene,
but two now about h9Is survive the occasion,
I'D Ind A
mond-and that be is almost afraid to tell
this fish story at this late day. We can say,
however, that those who know the two sur
vivors will not Tor moment question their
veracity.
I've have another fish story to relate,
and it will seem incredible, but when we
mention the parties connected with it all
who know them will be satisfied as to the
truthtuluess of the narrative. Over twenty
years ago. during the war, we believe,
Messrs J. R. Fleming and j. F. Barnes, of
GAINESVILLE, we're fishing in the river q short
distance below the mouth Of Buffalo creek,
using poles and lines One ofthe gentlemen
finally got q tremendous something on his
hook, but he was unable to lift it to the sur
face OF the water. After working with it
for some time he at last got hold of the end
of the line, and, putting it ON his shoulder
stsrted up the bank of the river, and sue.
ceeded in pulling about seven feet Of the
fish out of the water, when it broke the line
and got away. Both gentlemen declare
that half of it or more was not gotten out
that it was fully fifteen feet long and per-
haps longer, judging from the bulk of the
body exposed TO view. From the descrip-
ton they give it is believed to have beena
large eel and not fish. If it were neces.
sarry the parties named would make ati.
davit TO the above. We believe it all be-
cause they tell il,