The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-07-24
miscellaneous.
A CAMP FIRE FISH STORY.

burned brightly on the north shore of Lake
Superior at a point few miles west of the
mouth of Pigeon River. Every evening three
of my friends and sat around the fire to
smoke after supper pipes. When the pipes
were glowing the incidents ofthe days hunt.
ing were lovingly dwelt upon, and hunting
and fishing stories were told. One night
when had returned to camp from the dark
clear waters of Lake Superior without the
whales that had boastfully alleged would
catch, one of my comrades, whose hair was
white and whose form was slightly bent with
age, looked through keen black eyes at me-
and then looked beyond me at the past, and
he smiled pleasantly at scenes which he con-
jured up.
Frank" he said, "you can handle ou-
bled-barrelled shotgun fairly well for one OF
your age, and you can catch black bass and
brook trout when they are hungry. But you
do not possess knowledge of lake trout, nor
do you know how to catch them. I'll tell
you story, and then l hope that you will
realize that to catch lake trout requires in
telligence as well as bait" and he added,
rather savagely for 80 aged and unusually
good natured sportsman, land, my boy, bull
heae luck don't count in lake trout fish
ing.n
He said: "When l was young man Che
is over 10Y | spent season in prospecting
for copper mines on the south shore of Lake
Superior. With me was middle aged In
dian who had spent his life in hunting and
fishing and loating in the forests and on the
waters of the lake region. He knew the
wilderness thoroughly. Heknew where the
deer and moose lived. He knew in which
lake the wild waterfowl could be found, and
he knew where trout, pickerel and black
bass lurked in dark cold water. He possessed
all desirable knowledge relative 10 the region.
Oue night when we sat by the camp fire the
Indian was in a laxative, confidential mood.
He said In that lake indicating Lake
Superior with backward toss of his head,
ARE very large trout. About three miles from
here there is reef in the lake where the
water is not over so feet deep. The trout
gather on this reef in large numbers. They
are always there, but they will not take the
hook excepting in certain seasons. If you
could catch one of these fish you would never
again eat pickerel' Then he told of catch
ing trout on this reef that were from to 4
feet long and that must have weighed from
90 to 80 pounds. OF course | wanted to
catch and eat one of these fish. The next
day he padded me TO the reef. l fshed for
hours, but caught nothing. That night 1
thought out a plan. The next morning
sent to the settlement for supplies, and in the
list of articles needed was a fish globe, and
| wrote to my agent 10 be sure to send me
the globe In due time the globe arrived.
filled it with water, canght few minnows,
and put them in it. Then tied piece Of
cloth over its neck, first pulling out one-half
the threads, so that water could flow in and
out. tied a short rope to the shank OF the
globe, and Il heavy fish line around its neck.
TO the loose end of the short rope l tied a
heavy stone for an anchor. l put short dry
log in the canoe, and was ready to set my
bait The Indian watched my preparations
with silent scorn. Catch lake trout with a
glass jar The scheme was too absurd to be
worthy of warriors consideration. The
savage had had a low opinion OF me before.
But now had lost all caste. He reluctant
ly padded me and my childish traps 10 the
rect He grunted, pig like, when l spoke to
him. Words were not to be wasted on such
as l. Arrived over the reef | carefully low
cred the stone anchor aud the minnow
charged jar, where the stone struck bottom,
and pulled the line taut and tied it to the lit
tie log which had thrown overheard, and
which was sufficiently buoyant TO support
the globe that was suspended in the water
about 4 feet from the bottom. l believed
that the lake trout would see the minnows,
u at they would try to catch them, that their
repeated failures would make them ravenous,
That they would actually rub their noses
against the glass until they became sore, and
that, when was ready to fish, they would be
keen to bite, l laughed when had the bait
fixed to my satisfaction, and the Indian look
ed at me through keen eyes, as though he
thought | had finally gone crazy.
Il did not visit the reef for two days
Then l said: Come, Henry, we will go
catch some trout l took my lines aud
pail of minnows for bait, and babe the In
dian get the canoe ready. He reluctantly
obeyed. Arriving at the buoy, baited a
hook and dropped the line. l felt the sinker
strike the bottom, and then l felt mighty
tug on the line The Indian knew that had
hooked fish just as quickly as did, and he
thrust his paddle in the water and we follow
ed the fish so as to get away from the buoy
line Then pulled the fish in. No artistic
playing with an eight-ouDce rod, but just
heavy hand over hand pulling. That fish
weighed 20 pounds. The Indians eyes blaz-
ed with excitement. He struck his open
mouth with open palm to express his aston
ishuent and quickly padded me to the buoy.
Again dropped the line. Again the bait
was instantly grabbed and the eager fish
dartsd off We followed Till beyond danger
of entanglement with the buoy line, when the
fish was pulled into the canoe. The fish
were as twins. Two were sufficient to sup
ply my party with food and refused TO
catch more, much to the disappointment OF
the Indian, who wanted to load the canoe
Every other day after that the ludian-now
most respectful in his manner and speech
and caught from two to three trout. They
were the best fish have ever eaten.
when left the region, not having found
copper mine, the Indian begged for the
globe. saying Give it to me. l will cache
it in the forest. When want trout will
set 1t and catch them. No other Indian who
lives on the shores of the great lakes can
catch these trout out of season. / will be a
great man, and maybe will become chief.
At any rate will be strong medicine So
| gave the globe 10 him and left one happy
savage in the north woods"
Iconsdered that good story aud true
story, and resolved to initiate my aged COM
rade. So, on the following morning, rugged
up glass sugar bowl, filled 1t with minnows,
and anchored it in the lake, and the next day
fihed there and never got bite. hauled
in my bowl ard rowed TO shore and said
nothing about my failure, but l silently
denounced my aged comrade as one who ex-
aggerated the successes Of his youtb.-Frank
WSlEeSOn,