Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-15
sPzAR1Ne FOR SUCKERS.
Exciting Sport for the BackwOods
Boys of Connecticut.

Boys of Connecticut.
The boys of the Connecticut back
woods have been enjoying one of their
rarest of spring sports, which is, spear
ing for suckers in the smaller streams
and for eels and pickerel about the edges
Of the marshes and mill ponds. Many q
man in city life will remember his early
adventures at this sport with pleasant
thoughts, but the mature mind will cause
him to wonder how he survived under
the attendant conditions Of exposure. A
description of the sport will convince
the reader that it is one of the best allies
to consumption which New-England has.
When that large-mouthed fish known
as the "sueker" leaves the ponds for his
nightly run up stream, the country boy
gets his shaded lantern, or an old cam
paign torch, and a spear with four or five
prongs. He then arrays himself in an
old pair of trousers and a pair of old
shoes or boots. Thus accoutred he
plunges in at the mouth of the stream,
or at any point where the water does not
reach above his waist. With the spear
poised in his right hand and in the Other
hand his lantern, sending its rays to the
bottom of the stream, he proceeds up.
ward in search of the fish. Every bit Of
the dim bed of the brook is reached by
the light of the lantern and the sharp
eyes of the boy. The coldness of the
water has no effect on the enthusiasm Of
the youth, and it is common thing tc
stay in the streams for four hours on a
single expedition.
The excitement is quite intense al
times and the exercise is vigorous. Al
the illumination of the water by thu
lights used is not very great, keer
watch for the fish is necessary, and an in
experienced sportsman would often ruiz
his weapon on some narrow rock which
might appear to him like fish, and ir
all other particulars the sport requires
skill. The fish are so attracted by thu
light of the lantern as it approaches
them, that they remain perfectly still
and, unless startled by too much splash
ing, they allow the light to get directl,
above them. Having reached the fish,
the sportsman has the difficult part O
the work yet before him. He must ain
his spear correctly, and drive it witt
great rapidity to the object, three feet o.
more under water. In this the averag,
country youth who practices the spor
becomes so proficient, that he rarel,
misses the mark.
The skillful sportsman usually strikes
the fish squarely across the back and clea
through the body. Unless he does tina
he is apt to lose his prize, for fish tina
is only slightly wounded will struggl
violently for liberty. A large fish that j
speared across the body, near the tail
will frequently tear himself away, leay
ing his tail on the prongs. The work o
| getting large fish to the surface afte
spearing it is also difficult, as the strug
giles make the wounds so large that tn
spear retains little hold, and it is oftel
necessary to hold the fish to the bottom
until it dies. The fish caught in thi
way are the largest to be found in tn
ordinary fresh-water streams and ponds
The suckers" never bite at IA hook, an,
only the hardy fellows who brave tn
cold water of the streams ever cate
them. These fish average about thre
pounds in weight.
Eels are difficult to spear and are foun
in places that are usually too muddy fo
wading. Very large pickerel are speare
about the edges of ponds, but they are $
easily frightened that it is difficult t
approach them. A four-pound pickere
is a rare prize for the sportsman. Th
pickerel do not rest on the bottom lik
the other fish, and are therefore NOR
hard to take. They are very swift i
motion, and as they glide along the
seem in the light of the lantern like on
long streak of fish. Spearing would b
more comfortable to ordinary men if Ion
rubber boots were worn, but to the cour
try boy such an outfit is unnecessary.
Another method of spearing employe
on the ponds alone, and which is tam
compared with the wading method,
spearing from boats. With a stron
light fixed at one end of the boat, th
harpooner takes his stand, and is slowl
rowed about in shallow water. The mt
ton of the boat renders great skill j
throwing the spear necessary. This is
pleasant form of the sport, and one j
which social parties often indulge. - Me-
York Times.