Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-27
READY FOR A CATCH.
A Disciple Of lzaak Walton Invests
in a First-Class Outfit
PREPARATORY TO A FISHING TRIP
1t Costs Him $3.50, Yet a Small Boy, With
Only 10-Cent Pole,
WOULD PROBABLY CATCH MORE TROUT.

WOULD PROBABLY CATCH MORE TROUT.
"I am the fshing-tackle crank of this
store" said middle-aged man with small
yellow mustache and that serenity of coun-
tenance which usually belongs to a genuine
disciple of Walton. He stood behind a case
of anglers paraphernalia in Fifth avenue
establishment.
A young man whose father had made
fortune, wanted to buy an outfit. He had
never fshed, he said, but he was going to
try his luck this season. He wanted the
best of everything and nothing was to be
left out that would add to his pleasure or
comfort.
The man with the yellow mustache and
placid countenance said that he could fit
the young fellow out at moderate cost and
in the most stylish and serviceable manner.
The would-be young fisherman began by
saying that he supposed that fsh-pole was
the thing to begin with. The salesman cor
rected him in way not to give offense by
telling him little later that a rod was what
he wanted. There was bewildering lot of
rods to choose from, but as the customer was
going to fish for black bass first he settled on
handmade casting rod of lancewood feet
inches long and weighing 81 ounces. The
price was So. The rod had fine German sill
yer mountings, and was in three pieces,
handsomely Joined together. He might have
had split bamboo rod at the same price, as
they have recently been reduced, or he
might have gone as high as $50 for one.
Then there were greenheart and other rods
at s. and $40, but he was told that the lance
wood was most desirable, and at the same
time would cause him no regret for extrava-
gance.
AN OUTFIT COSTS MONEY.
In looking at the rod the young man OBJ
served that there was no reel for the line,
such as could be seen on rods iu the window.
He was told that the reel, although abso-
lutely necessary as part Of the outfit, was
no part of the rod-it had to be bought sep
arately. What would reel cost? From 25
cents up. 1t was a long way up TO one that
would give comfort to a fisherman. A good
watch or good sewing machine would not
cost much more. For $40 he selected fine
German silver reel. 1t was double multi
plying, had backsliding click and patent
compensating steel pivots. He might have
bought very good and substantial reel,
brass or nickel plated, for $8 or $40.
Next he turned his attention to lines.
There were silk lines and hair lines, and
lines of both hair and silk. The price varied
from cent yard to $40 for 100 yards The
young man took 150 yards of level enameled
braided silk at cost of $13. Then he
added couple of leaders at a cost of 81, and
a few swiyels, sinkers, and floats, with
which no angler should be unprovided, at
30 cents more.
When it came to selecting flies the Gus
toner was all adrift-there were so many
hackle. After he had made his selections
he found he had SO invested in flies. Then
a fy-0ook cost him So 80 more. He was
told that it was policy in good angler 60
ing on big trip to take a good supply of
trolling bait, Caledonian hard-rubber min
nows, phantom silk rubber-coated minnows,
grasshoppers, lady birds, grubs, frogs, crick-
cts, bumble-pees, crawish and butterflies.
A moderate selection in this line cost him
$40.
PROTECTION AGAINST MOSQUITOES.
The young man had now. made very
good start in selecting an outfit; but there
remained many things yet to be bought if
he intended to become genuine fisherman
and make his outing long and successful
one. A sole-leather reel case was put down
at 81, and sole-leather rod case to hold two
fly or two bass rods at 81. A bait box cost
20 cents and Harvard ice-top minnow pail
81. A man must not go to the north woods
without pocket compass, and fine, jew
eled instrument of this kind was included
at cost of 81 25. The young man happened
to be a smoker, and a patent cigar-ighter
was added to the outfit at 80 cents.
Then he was warned against mosquitoes.
He thought it was little early, but the
dealer said he would certainly encounter
them in the woods. As preventive meas
ure to fend off these insects, he bought a
box of mosquito paste at % cents, and to
protect his skin from sunburn and irritation
box of black fly cream at % cents more.
A patent pocket mosquito bar to fasten over
his head cost him 75 cents. A fishing rod
holder of galvanized iron was 81 25, and a
disgorger was 30 cents more. A landing
net, which can be expanded and collapsed
like an umbrella, with jointed bamboo
staff, was added to the outfit at cost of
81 80, and steel gaffhook, with nickel
plated mountings, was 81 more.
EXPENSES MOUNTING UP.
Now, although his tackle was about COM
plete, the young man needed number of
things to make every provision for his COM
fort. In fishing in the streams he must
neeQS WaQe. 10 WaQe IN comfort, or raLner
to insure that he would be comfortable when
he had finished wading, pair of wading-
trousers were essential. The cost was $40.
A canvas trout creel of good size to carry
his fish in was added to the list at cost of
81 go, and fine adjustable spring balance,
with which to ascertain the exact weight of
his bass and trout, was 50 so.
Nor was that all. A fisherman is sure to
get thirsty while fishing. He might carry
a flask or dip water with his hand, but it
would be more comfortable to dip it with
soft rubber cup that costs % cents. And
then how was he going to sleep if caught out
late at night and unable to reach a house?
He followed the salesman's advice and took
along a new-fashioned arctic sleeping bag.
The price was 500. Then he wanted ham
mock in which to while away his idle hours.
and this was 81 so more.
FINALLY FIXED FOR $3.50.
A suit of dark gray clothes made special
ly for fishing. and consisting of long, tight
fitting trousers and close buttoned blouse,
cost the young man $40, and a 15-foot fold
ing canvas canoe $50. The salesman sug-
gested a carryall bag, which was put down
at 81 60, and a clothesbag at 81. Then the
young man wondered how he was going to
cook when far away from hotels and board
ing houses. A fine camping outfit was sug-
gested. 1t contained all kinds of cooking
utensils, and the cost was only $22 60. Then
H. +bou IL h. bo,r