Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-20
IT cHEws TOBACCO.
A fAlonted Oakwood Catflsh Which
 Addicted to the Wead

fAlonted Oakwood Catflsh Which h
 Addicted to the Weed.
 Among . lot of catfish that Meyer Dorr caught one night last summer on bob, was one that was still alive when Dorr got home, although it had been lying on the bottom of the boat for three hours. This tenacity of life in- terested Dorr in the fish, says . corre- spondent of the New York Sun, and he turned it into tub of water. The cat fish proved to be so lively and apparent ly contented with it's lot that Dorr got large aquarium on purpose for it. The fish was not long in demonstrating that 1t was not only tenacious but sagacious. It would seize and devour worms or other morsels of food thrown to 1t, but when the same things were put into the water with 8 fsh-hook concealed in them the catfish could not be induced to touch them. If the bait was held very near him he would take it carefully be- tween his teeth so that the barb of the hook was turned from hlm, and carry 1t to the opposite end or side of the aquar- ium and drop it there.
 One day Dorr was standing at the aquarium, and in cutting 8 piece of to- bacco from 8 plug, some of it fell in the water. It sunk and the catfish made . rush for 1t. When his nose came in contact with it the fish hesitated and seemed uncertain about tasting it, but finally he took 1t in. He chewed away on the tobacco for some time, and then swallowed it. Half an hour later Dorr was passing the aquarium and was | grieved to see his pet catfish of in one corner, lying over on its side, it's eyes rolled back in its head, and the very picture of misery. Dorr thought the fish was dying from nicotine poisoning. It wouldn't move when touched, but simply turned its eyes and looked sad l ly up ct it's master. It's symptoms were unmistakably those of nausea, and Dorr expected to see the last of his pet in a short time. In the course of an hour or SO, however, the fish began to show signs of improvement, and was soon able to swim about, but it was very feeble for the rest of the day. The next day it was as well as ever.
 Dorr experimented on 1t with tobacco again, and to his surprise the fish took it this time without hesitation, and be- gan chewing with evident enjoyment. It retired to the corner of the aquarium and chewed and rolled the quid about in it's mouth with as perfect contentment as COW exhibits when chewing her cud This time the catfish did not swallow either the juice or the tobacco, and by the time it had extracted all the essence of the quid the water was yellow with to- bacco juice all around the fish. When the catfish had chewad his quid long enough to satisfy him he spat 1t out He wasn't sick after this trial, and dur ing the course of the day took three big chews of strong navy plug tobacco.
 Since then the fish has become con frmed slave to the tobacco habit, and 1. he don't get his chew at regular inter vals his nerves seem all upset, and ht tears around in the water and frets anG
 worries until the tobacco Is handed ovel to him, and then he settles down in hi corner and ohews in as masterly man ner as a rural politician does while dis cussing the state of the country in tn. |. l village tavern,