The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-03-01
A BLACK Bass STORY.
stirred Up with Eloetrieity-HIsd Hun
CRY with Tonic
fNarz York Sum

CRY with Tonic.
New York SUM-
One afternoon a little gray-haired man,
with mild blue eyes and clean shaven
face, sat upon the mill-dam of one of the
chain of ponds which check the flow of
the Whippany river in Morris county,
New Jersey. He held in his hand fine
split bamboo rod, while at his side was a
polished mahogany box with wires run
ming from its corners. and brass crank
projecting from its side. 1t was evidently
an electric apparatus and one of the wires
dropped straight down into the water,
while the other led away along the side Of
the pond to its upper end Near the
box was two gallon demijohn
and a graduated glass such as
chemists use for measuring liquids,
while at his left was can containing a
score of hideous water insects known as
bogerts or helgramites. and a basket in
which two fine black bass were lying
upon bed of oak leaves. AT intervals
the old gentleman carefully attached
helgramite to his hook and deity cast it
into the pond with a turn of bis left
wrist, and at the same instant vigorously
turned the crank on his box. For ten
minutes he cast the bait and turned the
crank at frequent intervals and then,
with an expression of disappointment put
aside his rod and turned to the demijohn
anu remover LuC COTh.
WipinQ the glass with his handkerchief,
he poured out about a fluid pound of
yellow liquid, which he cast out upon the
pond A moment later he was struggling
with a large bass, and his whip-like rod
bent nearly double as he skillfully handled
the reel and walked slowly toward the
shore, with his wrinkled face lit up with
the keenest pleasure.
He'a got a whopper, said a bare
footed boy who had been watching his
maneuvers for half an hour. Turning to
the youth with a triumphant glance, the
old gentleman said:
Il was the tonic that fetched him.
After struggle of sthree or four min
utes' duration the angler landed a three
pound bass, and as the fish painted away
Its life on the grassy bank he danced
about II, saying:
Thu tonic is success, a great success.
The calisaya was what il needed. Less
iron, more calisaya; that's the thing.
Did understand you to say that you
caught that bass with tonic?" asked q
+. stranger who stopped to view the captive.
mo. sir not directly with a tonic.
90 not put tonic on the bait, but admin
lister 1t through the medium of the water
In the pond. 1t Is most important dis
covery, and will revolutionize the art of
angling Bass are sluggish in August,
and will not take food readily, but the
and they take the bait voraciously.
"What is the electrical apparatus for?"
"Ak, that is another triumph, an
swered the little old gentleman. at is
one of my most important scientific dis
coVeries. In that box is powerful mag
neto-electric machine, with which 1 can
reach the deepest recesses of the pond,
and awaken the sleeping fish with a
thrilling shock of electricity. 1t is
q most remarkable success Most extra
ordinary"
aYo1 have caught three bass 1 OBJ
aerve?'
@Yes, three beauties. and have been
here only about five hours. AS soon as
receive my inheritance from Spain shall
patent both inventions l am staying out
here for my health, and am giving full
sway to my genius
@Come, doctor, it is time to return, !"
said burly looking individual in blue
suit who had just arrived on the scene,
and the old gentleman, with his assistance
wound up the wires and packed away his
tackle.
@He Is pretty well fixed, and we have
TO humor him, said the man In blue to
the stranger, as be followed the old gen.
tleman up the hill leading to the asylum.