Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-01
FISHING WITH BOTTLES.
A New Way of Combining seananship
Sport and the Arf If

N Ne" way OF Combining Seamanship
Sport and the Art of Fishing.
Catching fish is surely a very move
use for bottle, but the feat is easily
accomplished and affords d great dea
of amusement and excitement.
| A number of empty champagne OF
beer bottles being obtained, each one
is to be filled with sand or shot until
1t will stand upright when foated in
water. Each bottle is then tightly
eorked and strong tapering ash OF
hickory stick. eighteen inches long, is
passed through each cork, this stick
having a small, bright-colored burgee
"a three-cornered fag) at its tip.
Next piece of wire is twisted around
the neck OF the bottle. so that il can
not slip of. and in this wire a large
loop is made to which the fish-line is
fastened The length of the line must
depend entirely upon the depth of the
water to be tished; ten feet is usually
long enough The hooks. for general
use. should be of medium size-say
No. D. Moderately heavy sinkers are
attached to the line. A swivel will
make the outfit complete. although
not absolutely necessary. If the bot
ties themselves cost nothing, a dozen
may be prepared at a cost of twenty
five cents
The bottles, thus having been made
ready. may be used in a number of
ways. They may be set in a row on
the bank of a stream. or on a pier.
close to the edge; the hooks having
been properly baited. are TO be
dropped into the water. 1t will not
be long before one of the bottles will
begin TO waver and suddenly take a
mighty leap overheard, swimming off
and bobbing around in a very peculiar
manner. The excitement which a row
of these fshing-bottles will arouse.
and the guessing as to which bottle
will go first, is very amusing, and not
to be despised as sport
One or more of the bottles having
popped off and been taken in tow bv
fish, must now be rescued; this can be
done by means of long stick having
three hooks, without barbs, dashed TO
it, back to back; some one of the
hooks will soon catch into the loop of
wire around the neck of the bottle and
you can draw in both bottle and fish.
Where there is a lake or pond at
hand, and boat available. the bottles
may be taken out from the shore and
set atiOat around the boat. If the fish
are at all lively and there are many
bottles to tend there will be somet
very exciting sport in chasing the |
bottles, for they will start in all direc-
lions at every moment.
Where there is number in the party |
''sides" may be chosen-two sets of |
bottles being furnished, an even num-
Der to each, and each set having flag
in color. The side catching
the most fish wins whatever prize is to
be awarded.
For sea-fshing an additional ar
rangement is needed, because the
waves cause the bottles to bob I'D and
down so that it is hard to know when
a FISH bites. The flag is brought into
use as a signal. The upright rod is
at its tip with small screw
eye, and a strip of tin three inches
ong is fastened by its lower end to the
over end of the rod parallel with it,
so as to make spring-clip. The flag
S fastened to the end of the line, and
; set by being caught in the clip
made by the strip of tin. In this posi-
ion the flag is lowered" as it were.
'eing at the foot of the rod; but when
he fish bites he pulls it away from
he clip and raises it to the top of the
cd, where it stops, being too large to
70 through the eye. That the flag
nay fly straight, and not be drawn
nto the eye and crumpled, it is best
o sew it to a straight bit of wire. hav-
ne loop at the top to which the line
; tied.
Another improvement is to paint the
inside of the bottle white. by pouring
4 white paint and shaking it around
nd then pouring it out and letting the
ottle dry. Then prepare the bottle
s described. and should a large fish
i'm the bottle upside-down, as he q
cry likely will. it can be readily seen
nd follOwed.-Wide Awake.