The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-09-10
Sporting in the Susquehanna Valley

Sporting in the Susquehanna Valley.
THE TRUE STORY OF FISH DEAL.
A local correspondent of the Washington
Star tells fish story about boy in the Sus-
quehanna valley. One morning Jesse sailed
out at three o'clock, and in the course of few
hours caught good many fish, and among
them two very fine bass. weighing about three
pounds each. These two, with boyish pride,
he put on string by the mselves, and fastened
them to a bush on the bank. Preparing to re-
turn home, be went short distance down the
stream to take up catfish line, and while
away two fancy fishermen from Harrisburg
came along. They had not caught anything.
Getting sight of the two large bass-not seeing
the other string-they remarked on the boys
good luck, one of them adding that he was
noted, AS some say, prevaricator On his re-
turn one of them said:
Hello! sonny. what luck this morning?'
"Bully!' said the boy; caught more'n hun
dred, reckon
Are you disposed to sell? Our success has
not been commensurate with our efforts and
tackle and we want to take home some fish,
"What'll you give!'
"Well. seeing it's you, we'll give you fifty
cents piece
Fair trade and no kckin' ?"
coin, and will pay you down for all you've got
at the stipulated assessment"
Fifty cents all around!" said the prophetic
urchn.
That's the agreement. My friend here is
member of the legislature and is ready security
for all that's nominated in the bond"
81 don't exactly follow you,' said the boy;
'tbut Pm onto that fifty cents. It's a cold day
when well, here's couple Of 'em, and I've
got another string; take 'em all, do your
"Yes, yes; develop your fish,"
With an air of difidence aud assumed dejec-
ton the barefooted mountaineer, brought out a
long string of bass, catfish, suniish and cells, re-
marking:
"Ihere's hundred and two with them big
uns. and if | hadn't run ont of dobsons and
MINERS thered been heap more"
1t is related that a yarn string could have
been tied around the protruding eyes of those
Harrisburg gentlemen. But. to their credit be
it said, they paid the boy SOL. only stipuIating
as the money counted that he should COM
init to sacred memory one short phrase: "Don't
mention it,.
When this little boy grew up his full name
was jesse VI. Saryis. He became an authority
in the financial world and bIoated bond
holder, but he did not forget his early home in
the Susquehanna valley nor lose his love for
sporting, as witness the following from the
Washington Evening Star concerning
4 SQUIRREL HUNTERS REMARKABLE FXPER-
IENCE.
Mr. Jesse Saryis, the newspaper correspond
mt. has been in the habit for a number of
years past Of going to central Pennsylvania
( and spending the greater portion of his sum
mtr vacation in fishing. The narration of his
experience on his return has added many Strik-
ing chapters to the Munchausen element in
piScatOrial literature Mr.. Saryis does not fol-
low the wel}-beaten track of making the inter-
est of his stories depend upon the large number
Of fish caught and their extraordinary size, but
rather on the adroltnesS and skill with which
the water Is whipped and the fish landed Per-
haps i was the hot weather that the other day
diverted the conv eT>ation TO woody delis anu
bahbling streams, but whatever was the cause
MIR. HIrNis began to tell Star man that his an
nuri trip this year would not occur until De
iober.
Il expect to do a great deal OF hunting while
/ am away" said Mr.. Saryis as he gazed pen
>iVely out upon the pavement as ii Law blister
ing in the hot sun.
'Hunting!" exclaimed the listener with sur
prise. why thought that you devoted your
/ entire time to fishing"
Il used to do that replied Mr.. Sarvis s'5ut
last year my brother invited me to go hunting
and ii was perfect revelation to me. Talk
/ about excitement; why | never had anything
/ to affect me in such d way. Poker playing Is
stupid in comparison, and fishing is like going
| 10 bed. | Will never forget the experience of
| III" first day Us long as | live. You see. we
were hunting squirrels. OF course squirrels
| are not regarded as great game by professional
| hunters, but up in that country there is no
/ large game, and for man who has had no eX-
! perlence the sport assumes the proportions of
| deer hunting | had gone up ravine and
/ presently ! saw a gray squirrel some distance
ahead, and it was coming towards me-
/ dropped to the ground, to avoid frightening the
/ squirrel. and got nv gun all ready. The SOUR
rel came on. began to feel my blood run
more rapidly, and thrill passed through my
body. The squirrel kept coming on. The per
| SEPARATION started from every pore, my hands