, 1890-04-02
STORY OF A BLACK BASS.
An Interstate Fishing Experience That =
New York Artist Once Had.

A few years ago I was spending the
summer in Delaware valley. | went
uut bass fishing n day, accom- panied
by a local fisherman As guide. Oar
boat was floating slowly down the
stream. when, as We neared a rock in
the middle Of the river, | had a strike
On one of my hooks. and the next sec
uud u big bass sprang IA of the water
at the end of my line. He was well
hooked, and began u desperate fight.
We hoated on past the rock, the bass
lighting so hat it was necessary to
keep the boat going down stream,
when suddenly the guide seized the
oars and began pulling up stream
with all his might
Hold on l shouted. Let her
loatl'
But we've got into Jerseyr' he re.
piled. We're in Jersey, and it's
against the law to fish there for two
weeks YETI
l thought the man was going crazy,
but | ordered him TO quit rowing, for
| wanted TO kill the big bass. Hc
obcyed with a growl, and said that if
Constable Van Ray saw US it would be
a dear bass to me rs well as to himself.
In the meantime the bass was making
a 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 vas SO stub
born. We had caught a turn in the
current fifty feet or so below the rock,
and the boat floated off toward the
west shore of the river. That was Just
flA lFv.aaf.A,. tIaN V~.v.NaI % tIaN
time, but we hadn't gone ten feet be-
fore the guide grabbed the airs again
and went to pulling up stream with
all his might.
Drop the oars!' l yelled, madden
than n bull. DO you want me to lose
these fish r.
But we're in Pennsylvany" whined
the native. There hain't no place
where it'll go so hard with us for
breakin' the game laws as it will in
Pennsylvany, and it'll be three weeks
VT before you can fish for bass in
Pennsvlvauyl'
| then made up my mind that the
guide was surely n little off, but Just
then both bass shot up stream, and |
shouted to him to pull up stream as
fast as he could. He did it with a will,
and as he pulled the boat up past tho
rock a 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 We're now pretty well played
u | raeled them in, but just as they
came within reach of the landing net
the big one turned and gave a desper-
ate lungr. The leader snapped in two
and away went the large fish. The
small one was above the break and |
got him in, but | would have thrown
him back again if my guide hadn't
just then exclaimed:
Well, therel That's the first time
/ ever knew n fish to be hooked in New
York state. and fit all the way across
New Jersey and Pe|nnsylvany back
into New York agin! That won't be
done agin in one while!'
Then | learned for the first time that
where | started in fishing was where
the three states come together at a
point in the river, and | had fought
the bass e all three of them. In
stead OF throwing the little bass away
| thought the novelty of his capture
warranted me in keeping him, and |
had him mounted as II mcmeuto of my
interstate p~IscnturiIl cNpcrieuCe.-New
York sun