Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-08-23
HOW THE BASS TELLS IT.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY OF
WHY THE FISH GOT AWAY.

Own Prowess-NOw Let "A Finny Veteran
Tell How He Wasn't Caught and Lied
About by 1Ian with Rod and Line.
Imagine, for the moment, for the sake Of
justice and fair play, that fishes are able to
exchange ideas by means of speech among
themselves, and that at certain favored
times, as we remember reading Of in our
chidhood's perusal Of the Arabian Nights, it
is possible formortals t. hear and understand
their language. Let it be the privilege too,
Of somebody strolling beside well stocked
fishing stream to overhear some such col
loquy among a school Of black bass as follows
below Imagine the listener to be gazing
into the depths Of deep basin in the channel
of the river when be is astonished by the
sound Of a queer voice from under the sur
face of the water, exclaiming;
BOW HE STOLE THE BAIT
"Didn't triumph over that poor fisher
man@
Furthef permit the favored individual,
looking down still more intently into the
water, TO distinguish clearly a school Of
black bass suspended in the liquid element
near the bottom, winnowing with their fins,
heads up stream, and among them particu-
larly large one, vigorously working his gills.
The crowd of lesser fish seem to be held in
which the greater bass is about to tell. ANY
one who has ever hung over a clear running
stream from bridge or bank and has seen
groups Of fish below viii recall how invaIia-
bly, the little ones in a school gather admir-
ingly around the bigger ones, just as people
do in human society. Immediately let the
smaller voices, replying, be heard to say in
chorus, "Should think you didl Tell us how
it happened We were watching you"
well, you see" let the stronger voice pro-
coed, with the readers indulgence, 81 am a
pretty Big bass. l weigh about five pounds,
and 1atter myself that am as active as
am big. This afternoon, you know, being
hungry, l began to look about for provisions.
In exploring here and there, discovered
long white line waving in the water, and on
the end Of that line was a bunch Of baby
toads, At the same time, on the surface Of
the water, noticed the shadow of a long
yellow rod that was held out straight from
one end, as it seemed, by somebody on shore.
Hereafter my friends, when you see an out
fit like that, look outl Thogo toads looked
very attractive. I ana rery fond of young
toads"
YES" chimes in the chorus.
Consequently, steering clear Of the white
line, rushed up and grabbed them in my
mouth While l was making OFF with them
felt them pulling back in a way I did not
understand. 1t seemed they had power Of
motion and resistance apart from their own
strength But crushed them without mercy
and swallowed them, and when I cast my
eyes upagain, behold, the white line was gone. |
So by this time / knew that it was what is
called a fishing line, which Of course you
have all heard about Presently in my fur |
ther travels l passed by the same place, /
vuhara IN I n ,aH-
tached to that same white line. Now, you |
know am very fond Of crabs"
tYes"
"Well, this time was a little chary Of that
white line for I knew must be careful, else
might get captured, as our ancestors used to
predict OF us. So 1 swiftly approached the
crab, avoiding the little crooked continuance
at the end of the hne-a mighty dangerous
device by the way-and seized him near the
tail. / was just proceeding to swallow him
tail foremost, when suddenly felt him jerk
held on tightly, and Immediately the hook
and line disappeared Having dispatched
that crab, l continued purveying, and pres
emily CHANGED to return that way again.
Right before me, this time, nice, neat good
sized minnow was swimming, so l said:
Young fellow, you are predestnated for me-
and charged on him
HOOKED, But NOT LANDED
Il seized him crosswise in the middle, on the
back, and the stomach, preparatory to swal-
lowing him head foremost according to our
ancestral custom, you know; bat just at that
instant he jcrked, and l felt a sharp pain
thrill through my right jaw, and instantly
became aware that 1 was pierced with one Of
those dreadful hooks we hear so much about
! braced up and brought all my arts and
tricks into play. l few across the basin and
back again; l rushed up stream, and then
darted down till the line gave out. But that
wouldn't do. Steadily and remorselessly the
line was drawn in taut until was pulled up
to the top of the water, and theren-
''What did you sect" cries the chorus
"There saw a fellow pulling for dear life
at the white line to which the hook in my
jaw was fastened and the other end of which
was attached to the long thin rod which he
held in his hands He seemed much agitated
The rod bent like willow twig His linen
buster was all unused, his straw hat was off
and lying in the mud, his eyeglasses were
dangling by string to his vest, his hands
We're trembling nervously, and in general his
conduct, as he sputtered and muttered to
himself, was like that of a man going mad
He kept repeating rapidly to himself, Soft
soft, I've got himp but he hadn't. / pitied
the poor fellow, he seemed so much excited.
! looked up sympathetcally at him, but he
glared cruelty at me; and all the while he
kept dragging me nearer to him. I knew now
that the case demanded unusual exertion on
my part. realized that my situation was
desperate. However. l noticed that the bank
where the fellow stood was of clay formation,
and very wet and slippery from recent rains,
and felt that If / could only upset nv
enemy on that bank might get off safely.
So running up toward him, l slackened the
line so quickly that he couldn't wind up in
time, and then l braced myself for a terrific
rush
81 rushed. Nothing could withstand such
a desperate effort. heard a great splashing :
and laundering in the water behind me, and
the line came right along with me as free as
you please. Then I knew | was safe All
that bad to do after that was to work my
gills energetically, whereupon the hook of its
own accord slipped out of my jaw, and both !
rod and line foated down stream l slowed
that minnow away, under tho circumstances
with extreme satisfaction, and padded back
to the place Of conflict to see how the poor I
was coming on. Well, he looked I
dreadfully wet and out Of temper. He was s
just in the act Of getting up and pulling him q
self together. On the slippery bank leading q
down to the waters edge noticed two long I
parallel marks in the mud, made by his heels
when he slid. But / couldn't look at him
long, for the atmosphere and water about the
place were too sulphurous So came here I
none the worse for the encounter, saving this
little cut in my right jaw, which will soon {
heal you know, owing to the salutary infu- {
ence Of the water. Cor. New York Sun.
Force Of Habit. J
docs the razor hurtF asked the absent t