Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-03
.rd c.rbop, are plunged into The solution

and CoYbonS are piuukcu iuto tuo boAu.ion
the I,cht appears, ana soft mellow glow
hv the f;sh almost as far "a il would be
visible TO the human eye II held In the air.
The eliebtest movement in the water, tho
smallest ripple on the surface, or the light
est fouoh upon the chord attached to the
float rauses the lamp 20 oscillate from side
10 aide while tho well-known squirting"
of the electric light renders it doubly Mt.
tractiye to the fish, bringing them around
it in large numbers.
II the lines are then thrown overheard,
using. of course, the. proper description OF
bait for the kind OF hsh expected to be
CAUGHT and suitable for the season. great
snort NAV be had, and it is seldom indeed
that theywill not bite freely. Once hooked
the conditions of capture are tho same as
Mt any other time, the only difficulty
heing To keep large fish from
getting foul OF the connecting in
sulated wires. The pleasure of the
angler Is increased ten-fold. for, as q rule:
little can be seen of a hooked fish, and
oil action is guided by the sense OF toucn.
Here. however, the fish dashes to and fro
tbroueh the seft radiance of the subma-
rlne light. churnng the water into molten
silver at every turn. tho bubbles rising like
metal globes as il blows" and al tho
wonderful light and shade of natures most
happv combination Of coloring is caused
by the commotion under water. Every
fsh that is caught only increases the at
traction for the others. Frightened at tho
vain struggle and the turmoil. they dart
away for time, but once quiet is resumed
they return to tho light as irresistibly as q
needle turns to the pole.
This method was tried last year among
the black bass of the Susquehanna, and
also on calm nights among the weakfish
and kincfish of the great Peconic bay, and
worked admirably. A much stouter de-
sign would be necessary for rough-water
fishing. but the outline for such an outfit
may be easily evolved from this descrip-
ton. In river fishing the great evil to be
avoided is the grounding of the jar and
consequent breakage by the varying depth
of water or the boat swinging from side 10
side and dragging tho anchor. 1t is also
important TO know that the electric current
from these small batteries are so low that
il cannot be even felt By the naked hand.
and that apart from their use in fishing,
they furnish a safe, amusing, and instruc-
tive study for any one who desires TO learn
anything of electric lighting on q small
scale.
For black-bass fishing there arc many
men who prefer spinning or trolling"
to any other method, and while most peo-
PIE KNOW tDs ouLNuIu anu NASlDle SlSHo ~
tvpified BY the man slowly rowing his boat
up stream with tho line between his teeth
and spoon and bait trailing behind the
boat-there are many who envy the expert
fisherman his luck and wonder what IS the
secret of his success. Although few of them
will tell their secret, 1t Is a simple one
nothing more nor less than al accurate
knowledge of the bottom of the river and
the varying depth of water. Passing a
tree or q fence they know what shoal or
pool lies there, and quickening or slow
Ing the speed of the boat they cause the
bait to rise OF fall. keeping 1t at distance
of foot or two feet from tho bottom. The
depth of the bait is judged by the angle of
the line from the mouth to the water.
Spinning is not practiced at night because
the fish cannot see the spoon, but this
trouble is easily overcome and good sport
can be had by any one who is familiar
with the river bottom. Take an ordinary
spoon. rather large, and scour 1t with sand
until it is quite clean. with rather a rough
surface. Then get some luminous paint
from any large store and paint the spoon
on both sides, hanging it up for several
days to let it thoroughly dry. EYose II
to the full light of the sun all daynnd at
night 20 down TO the river and do your
trolling. The spoon will CLEAN on the
water like large, twinkling star and set
every fish within sight crazy with Curl
Oslty.