The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-23
ADVICE TO ANGLERS.
Some Very Useful and Practical Hints
the Amateur Fisherman.

Some Very Useful and Practical Hints to
the Amateur Fisherman.
A good fisherman tests his hooks be-
fore using them. If tempered too
high they break under strain of about
three pounds. If not tempered enough,
they bend under the above strain. Do
not use nickel-plated reel, if you can
get one that is not so finished; and if
the ferrules of your rod are nickel
plated, blacken them with ink and then
varnish them. Fish can see and hear.
Although their sight is very acute,
their hearing sense is only responsive
to such sounds as cause the water in
which they move to vibrate. Hence
talking does not disturb them, although
the heavy tramp of the fishermen on
the bank of the stream or stalking the
BOAT in any way from which the fishing
is done alarms them. Clothes that
make strong contrast with the nat
ural surrounding should not be worn.
Now we have told you what is import
ant for the benefit of such of our
readers as do not know the essentials.
We wish you all good luck, and shall
be pleased to report your catches. But
remember you need not tell us of the
big fish you hooked and lost, and be-
sides, take along spring balance, so
that the weight of the fish may not be
xaggerated-which you might possibly
do in your enthusiasm.
There are three ways to fish for trout
-dapping is one, bait fishing another
and fly casting the last and best. Dap
ing is fishing with short rod among
bushes or where ordinary tackle can
not be used. Bait fishing is what it's
name implies. For this mode earth or
dew worms, prepared salmon roe, or
perhaps better still, small fry, particu-
larry the young of trout itself, white
grubs found in decayed tree stumps,
sometimes grasshopper or cricket,
and various other bats are used. In
daping or bait fishing the hook is sunk
to within few inches of the bottom
by means of a buckshot, and afterward
quill or even a little twig is used as
float. This is particularly desirable
in fishing streams which are Overgrown,
as it serves to float the hook down the
stream.
But all this, while good sport, is
mere child's play to the scientific an
gler. He has his artificial flies, his
elastic rod of lancewood or some other
equally good material, his patent check
reel, his silk and hair line with its silk
worm leader and gut continuation. He
casts his fly upon the waters and it re-
turns to him at his own sweet will.
with something attached to it which he
has longed for many days.-N. Y. Star.
The widow is less selfish than the
maiden. for while the latter is always
looking out for No. the former is sat
isfied in watching for No. 2.--Yonkers
Statesman.
-Inere are disadvantages in being
q woman. A woman can't go fishing
Sundays without being severely criti-
cised for the act "A man can and be
merely called "a sad dog" which is
considered more of a compliment than
a criticism. Boston COu,.a~
Joseph G. Parkinson. of Chicago.
who has recently been admitted to
practice in the United States courts, is
q deaf mute. Nevertheless he is a
successful lawyer. whose strong point
is the preparation of briefs. At times
he carries on crOss-examinations with
the aid of pen and parer..