The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1891-10-31
A FRENCH DUDE FISHING.
The Gallo Idea of Sport Typified in n
Partisan Piscator.

l shall never forget fellow saw
one day last summer, just outside of
Paris, fishing in the Seine.
To prelude, the laws are very strict
over there in regard to fishing and
shooting. The seasons open and shut
like a jack knife with a snap. and
woe to the transgressor. On a certain
day in July, think, the season opens,
and long before daylight of the day
the banks of the river all along the
Bots de Boulogne are lined with fisher
men sitting side by side, almost elbow
to elbow | strolled down to the river
one day and witnessed the sport. TAX
ing out cigar | paid woman two
sous for a chair, and sat down to get a
wrinkle in French fishing. For half
an hour all sat in silence with not a
movement. Presently one fellow had
nibble. Immediately every eye was
turned on the little red float on his
line. The float moved perceptibly.
The man, with every nerve strained
and eyes riveted on the float, breath
less with excitement watched The
float dipped again. The man pulled
and the cork came to the surface, but
no fish. All along the line of fisher
men there was an ejaculation of
ABR The disappointed fisherman
put on fresh piece of bait and waited.
Presently the fish took hold again;
and this time he had him. Carefully
he worked him in to the bank, and an
attendant slipped a delicate landing
net under the fish and carried him up
the bank. There was a cry ali along
the line of fifty or more fishermen of
bon, bon, tres joli. Several laid down
their rods and gathered around. the
basket, lined with leaves, in which the
fish was carefully placed. He was a
monster, nearly six inches long, and
must have weighed about four ounces.
Then all went at it again with renewed
hope and courage.
Presently cab drove up and there
descended from it dude in an elabo-
rate sporting costume-eyeglasses and
a broad brimmed hat Walking leis-
urely to the bank, man who had ev-
identity been sent ahead to secure a po-
sition vacated A servant brought
from the cab folding stool and
placed it on the bank; returning to the
cab he produced delicate rod and
satchel. The rod was put together;
the satchel was opened and a small sY-
yer bait box, towel, piece of soap
and bowl were placed on another
stool alongside
The servant opened an umbrella and
held it over the fisherman's head TO
screen him from the sun and the fish
ing began. 1t was a long wait for a
bite. Finally there was a nibble and
miss; several more nibbles and misses,
and presently there was a fish. sure
enough. The excitement all along
the bank was intense. With the aid
of the landing net the fish was Sc
cured. The servant essayed to take it
off the hook, but the fisherman an
ticipated him and held it up in tri-
umph. But this operation wet the
dudes gloves, and he took them off
and threw them away
Things were getting interesting and
exciting, and blank the expense.
Presently another fish, which, being
secured, the servant dipped up water
from the river and handed the dude
the soap and towel; and he washed his
hands. This was repeated every time
he caught a fish. All this time gem
darme had been walking up and
down, and approaching the lucky fish
erman there followed an animated
conversation with much gesticulating,
seemingly a protest against such indis-
criminate slaughter.
The dude waxed indignant and quit.
The servant unjOinted the rod, gath
cred up the stools, umbrella and fish
basket and placed them in the cab,
which had been waiting. The dude
entered and was driven off with his
catch, numbering about six, the ag-
gregate weight of which might have
been two pounds-an immense sue
cess. have no doubt this great catch
made an item in next mornings paper,
with the usual lie about the weight of
the string and the big one that was
lost
had learned how the French do it.
Evidently little fishing goes a long
way with Frenchman. No doubt
my little man went home, took a rose
water bath and lay down for rest
after such a fatiguing and exciting
episode / though to myself how |
would like to get that chap out in the
Rockies on thorn bush creek, of hot
day, and make him wade the stream,
with an occasional stumble over a slip
perry bowlder and a souse under.
What a power Of good it would do
him, and what fun for me l-Forest
and Stream.