The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-04-28
CAPTURING A DEVIL FISH.
RARE AND EXCITING SPORT OFF
THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST.
A Monster of the Eighteen
Feet from Tip to Tip-The VOra-
cious Sharks.

We jumped aboard, spirited out the
sail, hauled up the iib and leisurely sailed
for the Hilton Head shore. On the way
across, about three miles, we busted our
selves preparing harpoon and lances. We
always made it a rule to have a large
supply of these ready. Our habit in
striking was one to stand at the head, the
other at the stern, both armed with har-
poons; the one at the stern steering with
his foot, but readyin case of an emergency
to strike also. Reaching the mouth of
Skull creek, which bounds Hilton Head
on he west and empties into Broad river,
we anchored near the shore, slowed use
less things away and arranged our weap-
ons to hand, then lay off to watch for the
fish, which generally showed themselves
on the early ebb tide justat the mouth of
Skull creek. Can one fond of the water
imagine anything to surpass thisl The
gentle roll Of the boat, the constant dip
ping of the gulls, the wind blowing fresh
and crisp, by this time having increased
sufficiently to cap the waves in mid river
beautifully, the landscape around present
ing that peculiar smoky, quiet
appearance so charming on a
June day. Such a situation and sun
would, under ordinary circumstances,
induce sleep, but our eyes were strained
for the first sight of the fish; and our in
exhaustible supply of "reminiscences of
former days sport--so pleasant to recall
when another is to be added to the long
ist-kept us on the qui vive.
Suddenly Elliott points to the star
board bow. "There is one, / think. !"
"No, boss" says Bob ''dat porpoise. +"
When the fish first shows the point of its
wing it resembles the fin of a porpoise
very much. Before Bob's words were
we'll out of his mouth, the monster sud-
denly leaped entirely out of the water,
coming down with a slap and a splash
that sent the foam in every direction,
and as quick as thought another and an
other fish show themselves until the
number reaches eight or ten.
Elliott is on his feet. 'Haul in the
anchor, Bob; lay out the oars, Jack, and
now, Hal, you strike"
In moment I am at the head of the
boat, the harpoon with a staff six or eight
feet long poised evenly in my right hand,
a coil of rope in my left, in order to give
plenty of line when the harpoon is cast.
The main coil is in the bottom of the
boat, the end fast to something substan-
tial, so if the rope is paid out with the
dash of the fish we will not lose both
rope and harpoon. am ready, and the
hands are quietly pulling toward the spot
where the tremendous boil indicates the
monsters disappearance. Here he is to
the left, about twenty yards off, cutting
around in circle, the point of both
wings showing.
EASY, boys, easy, and stand ready to
help me, Bob, when strike; leave Jack
to look after the oars. Steady. Back
water"
The fish had just turned his gigantic
body over, about ten feet from me, the
harpoon is raised and driven with all my
strength into the center of the white
stomach, which is just on level with the
surface
"Good shot" says Elliott.
Before the fish realizes the situation
the head of the boat touches him. ]
reach out, catch the butt of the harpoon
staff and force it entirely through the
body, and jump out of the way of the
rope which now begins to spin out with
fearful velocity. "Mind your hands
Bob, for we are now catching at the
rope and bending it over the bow when
ever the chance offers, thus turning the
head in the direction of the fish, assisted
by Elliott at the helm "Come and hell
us, Jack, for if the rope gets on the
broadside we will capsize, certainly.
''No danger, says Jack, who immediate
ly adds his bony hands to the work, anC
although the smoke flies, and lose some
skin from my hand, the boat swing,
around and we dash away with speed
that almost takes away our breath as the
spray pours over us and the head of tn,
boat buries into the waves, seeming
sometimes as if it wonld never ris
again. For the time being can use NJ
other expression than that we are drunI
with excitement, there is nothing t
equal it in the line OF sport. To reliev,
the weight of the head Elliott and Jacl
pass the line down to the stern and sit
ting there, as we give the word, all hau
together, for another harpoon must b.
placed in the fish as soon as hi
first dash is over. He is thel
gradually hauled nearerand nearer the sur
face. Gradually and cautiously we hau
as he approaches nearer and yet nearer
Elliott catches up another harpoon, ant
coming to the head stands ready to hur
it into the fish as soon as it approache
near enough to the surface. We begi
to see the black mass indistinctly at first
then more and more visible, until sud
denly Elliott says, "Look outl" and let
fly his harpoon. 1t quivers as the sta
is half submerged; and again the fis
dashes down and down until eight O
ten fathoms are paid out We the
steady him, and begin the hauling again
This time Elliott arms himself with
lance, and when the time arrives plunge
it in and jerks it out rapidly. The bloc
spurts from the wound and we leave
bloody wake behind. The fish gradual
becomes more and more feeble. Iii
dashes are less and less violent, until b
at length lies floating alongside gaspin
for breath. No time is to be lost. Quickl
blight of the rope is passed through
nostril into the throat. NV arm is SUD