Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-03-14
EIsH-sPEARiNG THROUGH THE ICE.
Winter Sport Among the Indians on Lake
Michigau-Bright Indian Braves Under
RIankets

WINTER sport among the lHulhus On Laho
Michigan-Bright Indian Braves Under
Blankets.
j. o. Roorback in s.. Nicholas.
About thirty years ago, was stranded
By the severe winter weather, which put q
stop to navigation, at the old army station
OF Green Bay, now fiouishiug city in the
great State Of Wisconsin, at the mouth OF
the Fox river, at the southwestern extrem-
ity of of long arm OF Lake Michigan.
had frequently noticed on Fox river q
curious lot Of black dots on the ice, in the
retired hooks and coves along the further
shore. What ere they?' asked; aud
the invariable reply was: They are In
dams fishing" This puzzled me still more,
and resolved to investigate. So one day
crossed the frozen river, and approaching
one of these mysterious black dots, found
it to be apparently ouly bundle in a
blanket, scarcely large enough to contain a
human form. But looking closer, could
see, first from one bundle and then from
another, the quick motion OF pole or
spear handle bobbing Up and down. A
word, o touch even gentle push only
called out grunt in reply, but at last one
bundle did stretch itself into bright young
Indian brave with wondering and wonder
ful eyes peering at me from under a mop
of black and glossy hair. A little tobacco,
a little pantomine, and little broken Eng
lish succeeded in making him understand
that wished to know how he carried on
mis- fishing under that funny heap.
Then saw il all Seated, Turk fashion,
on the border Of his blanket, which he could
thus draw up so as to entirely envelop him
cell in it. he was completely in the dark,
so far as the daylight vas concerned; and
thus enshrouded, he was hoVeripg over o
round hole in the ice, about eighteen inches
in diameter. \ smailtripOd Of birch sticks
erected over the hole helped to hold up the
blanket anu steady q spear. which, with q
delicate handle nine or ten feet long, was
held in the right hand, the lines resting on
the edge of the hole, and the end Of the
pole sticking through an opening IN the
blanket ablve. FROM the other hand,
propped into the water string on the end
Of which was 8 rude wooden dscoy-hsh
small enough to represent bait to the un-
suspacting perch or pickerel which should
gpp i. This deccy WAS loaded 80 as to
sink slowly, and wass moved and mnnGu-
vred as to initiate the mo,iOn5 of living
fish.
Crawling under the blanket with my Ia
dian friend, l was surprised at the distiact-
ness aud beauty with which everything
could be seen by the subdued light that
came up through the ice. The bottom Of
the river six or eight feet below us, was
clearly visible, and seemed barrel J four feet
away. The grasses vegetable growths
ard gpots OF peh5ly bottom formed curious
litla vistaa and recessea, in some Of which
dreamily tiosted q school Of perch ard
smaller fish. Each little air.bHbble sparkled
Ike q gem, ard the eye delighted in trac.
ing and watching the mystery OF beautiful
water formations, vhsre every crevice
seemed little fairy world, with changing
lights or shadoss, made by the sunlight
through the transparent ice.
Suddenly, from somewhere-.l conid not
tell where, it seemed 10 come by magical
large 'dory," or "moOn-eya! pike, appear
ed on the river bottom. The watch!ul In.
dian sloSIey raised the decoy bait toward
the surface. the larger fsh followed i. with
interested end puzzled eyes. There was a
sudden movement OF the spear down 1t
darted; its sharp prongs pierced the unsus,
pscliug pike, which was speedily drawn
IN and thrown wrigglinP on the ice.
Then the blanket was resdjusted, and the
fishing was resumed. Ny bright young
Indian friend said he could catch from
twenty to thirty pounds of fish in an after
noon in this manner, and sometimes could
even secure double that number.