San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-02-20
A NEW KIND OF FISH YARN
A PiSCATORiAL EXPLOIT WHICH
PROVED PROFITABLE.


der wnter--aow Divers Ingenuity
Brought Him Eamo and Won u F~iond-
iy wngor-A True Story.
"It was this way" replied Mr.. George
w. Fuller, the veteran diver, sitting
back in his chair and half closing his
I eyes as if TO recall all the circumstances
of this most curious Of diving expert
ments. "You see, / had been talking
with some Of tho boys, telling them
about what could do, and oil that, and,
If remember rightly, made the asser-
tion that could catch fish, dress 1t,
cook 1t under water and bring It up to
the surface in good shape for eat
ing without wetting 1t particle.
OF course everybody was incredulous,
and one man who was even moro in
credulous than the rest Offered to bet
me 800 that could not do 1t. AS
thought had pretty sure show Of
winning, and the man seemed anxious
to bet, put UP my money, and when
asked when wanted the affair to come
OF, | set a day about week ahead, as
had some preparations To make.
Taking couple of my men got
boat and went quito distance out into
the harbor, stopping over place where
thought should be able to catch fish
easily. had brought weighted barrel
along with me and my diving suit. The
barrel wo 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 1t 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, as q matter Of course, it was
filled with water. After / had secured
1t stopped down and crawled 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 go
any farther 1t, as 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
lbove, the water lowered until there was
not q drop In the barrel, and / was
In only three feet of water. l
had one of my patent lanterns with me
70 could see what / was doing, and
,oard, which had brought down with
he, proceeded TO nail up small shelf
Vt one side of the barrel OF the height SO
hat when my lantern was set upon it It
would be convenient for me to look down
m tho top of 1t. This done, l put on my
lelmet, got out from under the barrel,
nd went up to the surface once more
III my arrangements were completed,
md all had to do now was to wait
for the day Of tho trial TO como
II.
"It dawned at last, bright and clear,
nd considerable party of gentlemen
with US, TO either SEQ this, as
boy supposed, great feat performed, or
D see mo fail in my attempt TO mako
ood my assertion. l impressed it upon
he mind Of tho party who had bet
gainst me that TO perform the feat II
'as very essential that | should 20
nder water at IA place where / could be
sure Of catching a fish, and
o left it with mo TO select the place.
4 course steered for the spot where /
ad the barrel anchored. and, stopping )
ear where thought it would be, put .
4 my suit and prepared for the descent.
took with me my lantern, small stew
N, pepper, salt, etc, and my fish hook.
"By the way, you never saw a man c
Itch fish under water, did you7 Well, Q
is quite a simple operation. You don't !
ally use any hook a. all, but q long line e
ith the big sail needle on the end OF IL
hen you are on the hottom and eco q
n. good care must he taken 10 get BE- 3
8d him Then cautiously edeing up TO a
%, you make a quick jsb with the p
edle, and II you are a good shot your '.
h is csught Then all you have to do g
% push him Up on The string. which .
~. q cOurze, he l-soatsd on the end. y
= y0u are resdy for aDosber one. II r'
- one q thee bec-ilas thai bad, and
- -sry successful IN Dot having 70 =
-upy u4uch tine in catching my fsh,
: ] bad srzrcciy struck bottom and gOt p
7 baainrs When ] sag oue dirsctly y
80 - u1e. and I guocse3ed IN getting ~
"a iraIr.ied upon my Desdle IN sisOrt =.
~. Tten I crari@i un3cr the herrel ar
d. se1ting ny iasferl o. The sheif. :.
ai1i for tls Esi1r y l0Eer. I bad not -