Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-04-04
T0ILERS OF THE RIVER.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INLAND
RIVER FISHERMEN.

When the SHOWS have melted of the |
and the waters have become
warmer; when the buds of the red |
water naples that line the |
banks of the rivers, and streams begin |
to swell; and when the warming influ- |
ence of the sun draws out the frost
from the bluff sides, and the first spring
land slips occur; then the river fishermen
take up their work.
They are not q pushing, rushing, hur-
rying set of men-these fishermen: they
are rather on the Waltonian or reflective
style; they can drive a bargain as close
as any one, but their sad lack Of indus
try keeps them poor. But jollier, more
life enjoying people never lived. call
them a people: they are distinct class
of men from their ncighbors, even those
of like social standing. In the winter
they subsiSt on the little, the pitirully
little provender laid by during the busy
summer season, by basket making and
chair bottoming. Some of them occupy
themselves during the winter months in
kind of desultory progressional hunt
ing. Rabbits, squirrels, quails, turtle
doves, field larks. ducks, geese, water
chickens, coots. robins, sparrows and
variety of small birds, which, if known
by their right name, would not be
touched, but, served up fictitiously, are
relished exceedingly, are the victims of
these constituencies hunters.
HOOKING AND NETTING.
But the principal occupation of this
class of men is, as have said before,
fishing. They use what is called ''trot
line" and as most people are unfamiliar
with such method Of fishing | will ex-
plain. 1t consists of q long tar enameled
cotton cord, about quarter of an inch
in thickness, and it reaches across, or
nearly across, the river. Dangling from
it, at q distance of Il yard OF SO apart,
are short linen lines or linking. These
are supplied with one or more hooks.
each of varying sizes One fisherman
generally has four or five such lines, and
with Il dip net and catch net his outfit is
complete. Tho dip net is Il fine meshcd
continuance. with Il frame shaped like
the letter D, the part of the frame CORE
spending to the perpendicular stroke in
the letter resting on the ground. The
net is showed up the mouths Of springs,
creeks, branches, ETC., and is designed tc
take in all crawtish. minnows and other
unfortunate small fry which unluckily
fall in the way. The catch net is an in
strument, with the use of which nearly
every one is familiar.
The best and fayorite bait is small
tender crawfish, or "craws," as they are
called. These the giant red horse, the
red tinged sun perch. the mud cats, thu
founderny buffalo and their kindred 0
the finny tribe take with avidity. An
other reason for the popular use of thi
article for bait il the fact that it canno
be nibbled off by the sundry minnows
charles and molly hogs that always in
fest baitcd grounds. Tad poles. bu
frogs, molly hogs, rot CUTS, grubs, grass
hoppers and eel meat all make YER
tempting bait.
Some fish, as for instance the butfal
and the red horse. require q special lin
and special hook. The buffalo line
short and very strong, and is provide
with specially made buffalo hooks. Th
red horse always swallows the bait, an
hence it needs very slender hook. TIL
fishermen. as u rule. are very expert
; their profession.
The hunter and trapper make wool
craft fine art. They have the habi
and peculiarities of tho river designer
S They know the singular traits of ii
= black perch; have watched and studio
|. the drum in all characteristic doing
y They listen, perhaps, with pleasurab
o emotion to his weird yet realistic drum
70 ming under the gliding keel of Il
IS yawl. They arc naturalists in a trl
q sense OF the word.
n FRESH WATER PEARLS.
It People who have dealings with cou
y try storekeepers may have noticed
d statement on their letter heads, to t
IS effect that they buy and sell fresh wat
d pearls. The river fishermen arc the III
to that collect this new article of col
n merce In some counties in tho "ba
le country" statistics show that the pea
se ing industry has done more to enri
ie certain counties than any other col
,d merce.
ly The fishermen choose . mussel bed
I'd the desired quality and then begin
lis work of opening mussels. The mt
er favorable localities are generally in t
nc neighborhood of fine sand and shallt
It. water. The pearl is formed, ;>,'tordi
en- to the discovery of the river naturalis
p by fine sand, working in between
he glands of the musscl':s biceps which p
ty duces a secretion that ultimately resu
of in pearl. A perfect pearl is smoo
de opaque and hard. Their value deper
lis upon their clearness and grain"
as The fisherman himself, however,
on more worthy our attention. His opti
m ism is ever topmost; his good nature a
rk jollity are characteristic. Times may
hard with the bricklayer, the carpent
and the farmer, and the markets
always open for fish, and whcn an
IN seasonable time comes, he knows of
IL. coming, and can. if he wish. prep
go for it.
as Sometimes you will find lishern
IA who is not Ger honest, who merits, +
ng haps, the old couplet:a
ers FishNm dance, and fsh'man sing
om ~. Allflsh man steal mos any little thing.