Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1890-02-27
A NEW KIND OF FISH YARN
4 PlSCATORIAL EXPLOIT WHICH
PROVED PROFITABLE.

A Real Live Fish Caught aud Cooked Tn
der Wat~r-H"w y Divers Ingenuity
Brought II:u, Fame and Won Friond-
~ wnser-A True Story.
ut was this way replied Mr.. George
w. Fuller. the veteran diver. sitting
back In his chair and half closing his
eyes as If to recall all the circumstances
Of this most curious of diving expert
ments. "You see, l had been talking
with some of the boys, telling them
about what could do. and all that, and,
If remember rightly. l made the asser-
tion that could catch a fish. dress it,
cook it under water and bring it up to
the surface in good shape for eat
ing without wetting it particle.
Of course everybody was incredulous,
and one man who was even moro in
cre,lulOus than the rest Offered to bot
me 500 that could not 40 it, As
thought ! had u pretty sure show Of
winning. and tho man seemed anxious
to bet. put up my money, and when
asked when wanted the affair to come
off, set II day about Il week ahead. as
had some preparations to make.
Taking Il couple of my men got a
boat and went quite distance out into
the harbor, stopping over place where
thought should be able to catch n fish
easily. had brought a weighted barrel
along with me and my diving suit The
barrel we then proceeded to sink, hav-
ing the open side downward. Putting
on my suit went to the bottom and Sc
curely fastened the barrel to some rocks
with ropes to make sure that it would
neither rise to the surface nor float
away. Mind you, had the barrel raised
about three feet from the bottom, and at
this time. us Il matter of course. it was
filled with water. After | had secured
it | stopped down and crawlcd up into
1t, standing erect upon the bottom.
When crawled in the barrel was full
of water, but as staid under there min
ute after minute, the water began to be
driven out little by little, this being
caused by the air which was issuing
from my escape valve rising to the top
Of the barrel, and not being able to 90
any farther it, as u matter Of course,
kept forcing the water down. Soon my
head was entirely out of water, and soon
my chest was out.
"Then l unscrewed my helmet and
stood in the air under the barrel. AS it
was being fed constantly from the pump
above, the water lowered until there was
not a drop in the barrel, and l was
stano:.!s in only three feet of water.
had one of my patent lanterns with mo
So could see what | was doing. and
taking hammer, nails and small
board. which had brought down with
nc. proceeded to nail up q small shelf
ut one side Of the barrel OF the height so
that when my lantern was set upon it it
would be convenient for me to look down
on the top of it. This done. put ON my
helmet. got ont from under The barrel,
and went up to the surface once more.
All my arrangements were completed,
and all had to do now was to wait
patiently for the day Of the trial 60 come
of.
at dawnctl at last. bright and clear.
and consider lie party Of gentlemen
embarked with ,.,, to either see this, as
they supposed great feat performed. or
to see me fal! III my attempt to mako
good my assertion. impressed il upon
the mind Of the party who had hot
against me that to perform the feat it
was very es,cntia! that ! should go
under water at u place where | could he
reasonably sure of catching 4 fish. and
he left it with ne to select the place.
OF course steered for the spot where
had the barrel anchored, and, stopping
near where thought it would be. put
on my suit and prepared TOR the descent.
] took with me ,ny lantern, a small stew
pan, pepper, salt, ETC., and my fish hook
'By the way, you never saw man
catch fish under water. did you? Well.
it is quite a simple operation. You don't
really use any hook at all. but q long line
with the big sail needle on the end OF it.
When you are on the bottom and see o
fish. good caro- must he taken to get be-