The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-14
THE STORY OF A BLACK BASS.
An Interstate Experience that a New
York Artist Once Had.

York Artist Once Had.
From the Ne,1 York Sun.
Every one who sees that fish for the first
time wonders why it is preserved and
mounted with such care" said a we'll known
New FORK artist, who has among the mass
Of artistic things scattered about his studio
a small black bass which is handsomely
mounted on polished board, and looks as
natural as life. There is certainly nothing
in its appearance to indicate why it should
be thus preserved, for in size it is hardly
large enough to warrant an angler Ia
adding it TO his catch.
That bass has a story that wouldn't be
afraid to bet no other fish can boast,n con-
tinued the artist. ga few years ago | was
spending The summer in the Delaware val
ley. | went out bass fishing one day accom-
panied by local fisherman as guide. Our
beat was floating slowly down the stream.
when, as we neared rock in the middle of
the river, had strike on one of my hooks.
and the next second big bass sprang out
OF the water at the end of my line He
was well hooked, and began a desperate
fight. We fioated on past the rock. the bass
lighting so that it was necessary to keep the
Loaf going down stream, when suddenly the
guide seized the oars and began pulling up
steam with all his might.
Hold on ? l shouted Let her fioatr
But we've got into Jersey he replied.
We're in Jersey, and it's against the law to
fish there for two weeks YETI
II thought the man was going crazy, but
| ordered him to quit rowing for wanted
to kill that big bass. He obeyed with a
growl, and said that if Constable Van Raw
saw US it would be dear bass to me as well
as to himself. In the m antime the bass
was making noble fight and the first
thing knew another bass seized a hook on
the leader, and | had two to look out for.
The second was a small one, but he was a
fighter, and had all | could do to handle
them, the guide was so stubborn. We had
caught turn in the current fifty feet or so
below the rock, and the boat fioated off
toward the western shore of tne river.
That was just the direction l wanted at
that time, but we hadn't gone ten feet
before the guide grabbed the oars again and
went to pulling up stream with all his
might.
"'Drop the oarsr yelled madden than
bull. DO you want me to lose these fishr
" But we're in Pennsylvanyp whined the
native. There hain't no place where it'll
go 50 hard with us for breakin' the game
laws as it will IN Pennsylvany, and it'll be
three weeks yit before you can fish for bass
in Pennsylvany!'
Il then made up my mind that the guide
was surely little off, but just then both
bass shot up stream, and | shouted to him
to pull ahead as fast as he could. He did it
with will, ana as he pulled boat I'D
past the rock look of relief came over his
face.
"'Now we're all right" he said. We're
back In New York ag'in. where it hain't
against the law to catch bass
The fish were now pretty well played out.
reeled them in. but just as they came
within reach of the landing net the big one
turned and gave desperate lunge. The
leader snapped in two and away went the
large fish. The small one was above the
break aud & It him in, but / would have
thrown him back again IL my guide hadn't
just then exclaimed:
"'Well, there That's the first time |
ever knew "A fish to be hooked 10 New York
state, and fit all the way across New Jer ey
and Pennsylvany back into New York
ag'in That won't be done ag'in in one
whilev
Then | learned for the first time that
where l started In fishing was where the
the three states come together at poine in
the river. aud had fought the bass over all
three Of them. Instead OF throwing the
little bass away thought tho novelty OF his
capture warranted me In keeping him, and
] had him mOuuiej rs a menento Of my
inter state piscatorlal experience