Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-02

there remains no obstacle IN the path OF the
Islands prosperity.
At present many Of the larger hotels are
filed 10 overflowing, and, what is even bet
ter, arc booked until the middle OF Septem-
ber This means that the season will be a
long ore. At the smaller hotels and cot
taEes the colony OF guests is proportlonately
assuring, so there is no Immediate cause for
alarm
BETTER FISHING OF LATE,
4 factor that viii have an important in
1uence in bringing about an increase In the
number Of visitors is the marked improve
rnent in fishing, which came during the cur
rent week. Until then the sport had been
somewhat backward. Cool weather and
continuance of northers kept the 1sh in
southern waters from which they could not
be tempted. On this account there was but
little fishing in these waters. 1t is true that
she oespairing captains of fishing yachts
sought 20 Inveigle prospective patrons with
glowing accounts Of tremendous schools OF
iinny beauties only waiting to be hooked, but
that is an OLD tale OF the local salts, ana one
against which guileless visitors should be
warned. Until this week the proverblal
fansrnan's luck has prevailed.
AT present the sport could not be more e1-
citing. The other day 81 yachts, loaded with
enthusiastic anglers, were counted in one
group, and the lines swi5hed through the
water at Il lively rate as the gamy victims
were dragged into the boats. That evening
over i've tons OF big Grum1sh were piled
on the wharf at the Inlet, representing the
catch OF the fishing fleet If you have never
caught an adult drumfsh you don't know
what a thrilling combination of sport and
hard labor the operation comprises. There
IS but one thing that will tempt Matthew S.
Quay to pay a visit to his OLD haunts at Brig
antine Beach, jus; across the Inlet, and that
IS the news that the drumhsh are biting. An
6O-pound nsh, and drum frequently tip the
beam at the 100 mark, struggling and hight
ing at the end Of an ordinary line preclp-
itates a battle not to be despised by the
most muscular of sportsmen. There Is no
uncertain nibbling at the nook:when drum
strikes hs taxes hold to stay and
there is work ahead for the fortunate
angler. A man might be able to lasso q loco
motive and still be vanquished in setto
with big drum. 1t is work, but when the
huge prey is landed there is a resultant sat-
isfactlon that repays the exhausted victor
for his long and bitter fight. Therefore, drum
fishing is one of the most popular sports Of
the place.
THE wEAKFISH ARE COMING.
For those who prefer less lsoorious angling
there is plenty of diversion in taking weak
fish, which are also unusually plentiful at the
present time. To get them it is not necessary
70 90 outside into rough water, and for this
reason the species is popular with the visit
Ors who are subject to attacks Of seasick-
hess. The shallow and placid waters Of the
ThOroughfare are well stocked with weak
fish, and are much frequented by the milder
enthusiasts. The small weakdsh began to
come into the ThOrOughfare this week, and
great numbers we're caught.
One visitor succeeded in catching 81 weak
fish on flood tide the other day. This is con-
EidereG big haul in face Of the wholesale
depredations OF the net pirates, against
whom the visitors are beginning to COM
plain. If these mara uders had their way
there would not be q fish taken by hook in
fne 1hOroughfare. Their wholesale pilfer-
iug il injurious 20 the fishing, and, although
there is q State Fish Warden appointed to
keep an eye open to prevent the stretching
OF nets, the practice is resorted to openly.
Hardly day goes by that is not marked
by the rescue from drowning of one or more
1ncautiOus bathers who, overestirnating
their swimming proves, venture out SO far
that they are unable co return without as
sIstance. Thanks to the vigilance of the
volunteer ifeguaTds there have as
Vet been no fatalities this season,
but the bathers are daily growing
more careless, and it is probable thar
the beach Will before long be the scene OF
some sad accident caused by recklessness.
j is proven by statistics that more people
are rescued every year by any two of the
Atlantic City life guards than by the whole
Government life-saving service along the
coast il five years, and yet these preservers
Of human life are com mpelled to depend for
support on voluntary contributions which
are notoriousiy meagre and on the scanty
wages received from proprietors of bath
houses. Last weeks donations to the con-
tribGtion boxes Of these guards footed up to
exactly 81 cents.
Among the thousands of regular bathers
the donors for fearlessness in the surf are
borne OF by 3-year-o!d baby, the child of a
prominent New York actress. When ar
Tsyed in bathing suit the tiny tot presents
an interesting spectacle, and on account of
her fnfatuation Tor the water has been
dubbed the Midget Mermaid" A large
crowd Of spectators collects every morning
60 watch the baby bather go in the surf
When released on the beach by her nurse
she makes dash for the water into which
she goes bravely ahead until knocked end
wise by big breaker, which sends her roll
ing mead over heels up on the strand. Moth
ing daunted she makes q second assault on
the billows, and occasionally succeeds in
going cut to such depth that she has to be
''Tescued" by Jack Williams the lifeguard,
who patrols the spot. The Midget Mer-
maid" has taken great liking to Will
Jams, and every day he swims with
her far out to sea, holding the
belt of her little blouse between his teeth.
During the journey she sometimes grabs him
by the hair, which means that he is 60 dive
under the water with her. She comes up
dripping like drowned rat and as happy as
& sand-piper. There is not one woman out
under the water while bathing; and the
midget mermaid" is regarded as somewhat
OF phenomeuon.
The agitation Of the bathing suit question,
which has agitated the very foundations of
Ocean Grove and Asbury Park, has not dis
tuTDed Atlantic City, nor is there any proba-
bility that it viii do so. One humorous indi-
vidual created q ripple the other day by ap-
pear1Dg. on the beach in q novel costume,