Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-18


perature Of the water, state of the ther,
lnometer, etc. As no bass of less than half
a pounds weight is permitted to be taken
6y the Canadian Government, the smaller
fish are thrown overheard, and only the
larger ones kept aa q reminder OF good
DAYS fishing. During the nine years ex-
istence of the club, 200 have been taken,
or II fish to the rod for every days sport
its members have enjoyed
THEY DorE ON EXPENSIVE TACKLE.
Fishing is much the same in its details all
over the world; but there are not many men
able to use tackle costing from S125 to. $500
each, as the members of the Pelee Club do;
and vet do not know that the expensive
rod is of any particular advantage, for
have seen country boy go into the woods,
cut q pole with a jackknife and use line
that cost 10 cents and catch more fish than
the man next him with costly rod and
reel. Yet it adds zest to the sport when
you can hook a game fish and then play
with him with loose or tight line until you
get ready to haul him in. The fish caught
by the members of the Pelee Club are taken
only for sport, and are sent away to friends
in different cities, except those that are
wanted for the table. All taken in the
pring are returned to the water.
1t is not until after the days fun Is over
that Pelee is at its best. Then the lights
are lit, and the place is even more cheerful
than in the day. The members sit around
on the porch or under the trees, and tell
marvellous fish stories until dinner. After
a sumptuous repast, which days sport has
furnished an appetite for, members disport
themselves as they see fit, playing billiards,
writing home, looking over their mail,
which is brought down twice day by their
own dispatch boat. Even hand at some
familiar game at cards is not wanting, poker
being naturally the most popular.
DON'T CARE TOR PENNY ANTE.
Some interesting stCries are related of the
bouts at cards between these magnates, who
do not need to play penny ante and never
do. Each game contributes well to the
"kitty," for the benefit of the servants and
popular boys have been known to take in
$50 above their wages during the two weeks
they are employed there.
Bishop Beckwith, of Georgia, that grand
character of the church, who died not long
ago, was the pet member of this famous
assembly, and he is sadly missed at this
years meeting. One of his favorite say
''Yes, I am the Bishop of Georgia, and
the Chaplain of Pelee.
"Nothing but black bass are taken or
counted by our club" said Mr.. c. L. Mills,
an interesting young man from Sandusky,
who looks after the interests of the Peelee-,
ties, and is Secretary of the club.
"Why," asked.
Because, said he, "they are the gamest
fish for the line that swims. Likewise thev
are the most intelligent of the inny tribe.
1t is almost impossible to take and, keep
one in net. Let them set q pound, and
let it remain over night, and every black
bass that gets into it will get out, while
every other fish will remain.
HABITS OF THE BLACK BASS.
'Tt is also the only fish that arranges for.
and watches its spawn. It is also the only
one that protects its young after they are
hatched, or the fry as the fishermen call
it. IF you have ever seen q black bass get
ting ready for the spawning season, you
will see how the male hunts the ground and
prepares the nest for the female. He
watches over her carefully during the sea-
son, and when the young bass hatch he
keeps every other fish away from them
until they are able to fight for themselves,
which is at quite an early age. They are
very combative, and it takes a very remark
able fish of the other species to capture
black bass after it gets to any size. Besides
their intellectual quality they seem to pos
sess more vitality than any other fshthat
swims. That is the reason why it is such
sport to catch them, and the Peelee Club
spends its money for enjoyment, and they
find more of it with the bass than with any
other fish,"
While I am fond occasionally of the rod
and reel, and of waiting for the fish to bite
which Mr.. Mills has so eulogized, that
feature of the Pelee Island Club did not
strike me with such force as the commercial
relations which center around it. The fact
that after all 25 men of mighty afairs.prob-
ably representing capital of more than
5000, ZOO, 900 should content themselves with
fishing in the day, and the gayeties ofan ex-
elusive club at night for one month of year,
rather indicated that there are at least some
wealthy men who find something besides
dollars and cents to enjoy themselves with.
But there is still another mystery surround
ing the little elysium at Point Sheridan.
Why is an American club located on En-
glish territory? The answer is plain. The
water is colder, and therefore the fishing is
better. Then again there are no sumptuary
laws or inclinations on the Canadian shore |
to interfere with the liberty of those who |
come away from the exactions of a severe |
life for perfect freedom. There is no danger |
of law suits, nor any petulant neighbors to
complain. FRANK A. BURR.