The record-union., 1892-09-30
DON'T CARE FOR BASS.
Our "Backwoods Bell" Fishing in the
Susquehanna.
One Days Experience in the Neighbour
hood of York Haven and
It's Results.
Especial Correspondence RrooRD-US1oS.I

Especial Correspondence REcoRD-UNIoS.1
The little footstool never seemed to re-
volve so slowly to catch the new beams OF
the morning sun as il did one morning a
few days ago when fishing party was
assembled at York's tasty depot awaiting
the train which was TO snatch them to the
scene of their depredations. There were
many in the notion of angling that
morning, and with its cargo of stuffed
hampers and slender rods standing about,
to say nothing of the crowd in second
class clothes, first-class humor and a
cholera scare, the little station looked
much like a young schooner with sails
close furled. Such a scrambling and
good-natured elbowing when the sun and
train simultaneously appeared, one blink
ing drowsily and the other full of activity.
Only one huge pull Of the long train and
we were dropped off at York Haven, one
of the most delightful places that could
exlst-a little town sitting on the topmost
pinnacle of huge crags, and overlooking
the Susquehanna River, which sings at
its feet. There it is Joined by the Big
Conewaga.
One of the largest paper mills to be
found anywhere is situated at York
Haven. The town is principally paper
milI-were it taken away the town would
be like the Democratic majority in Penn
sylvania-scarce. a large building
labeled ''Postoffice'' occupies a .promi-
nent place on the high banks. and on a
jutting point stood large percentage of
the population-fye danes with sleeves
rolled up, with one arm akimbo and the
other shading the eyes, in the attitude of
the American Indian who had needed
Horace'S admonition to ''go West" until
the Western waters laved his feet and he
gazed on the splendors of the sinking
sun.
Give me a pen dipped in dreams to de-
scribe the magnificent Susquehanna!
From Harrisburg to York Haven it is
one glorious winding ribbon-wide and
quiet, and thickly dotted with verdant
Islands, ranging from mere green period
10 sizable islands with acres to spare
Overhanging trees that are masses of
cllnging vines, lilies and grasses and
beautiful flowers it sings to on its way
till each additional mile is stanza of
what it really is-a liquid poem.
At York Haven the gentler beauty is
varied by falls, and a mile or so is very
rocky-as rocky as some of Kipling's
poetry. There is continual blasting and
booming by the railroad company which
viii shortly make its double track all
along the river triple one. The draw"
towards toward the falls is so gradual as
TO be almost imperceptible, and the TOO
ardent IZaak could be drawn into its
depths ere he is aware.
When you strike this attractive village
YOU are more than sure to encounter Pat
rick Henry, the patriot, or his counter
part, with ring of hair around the base
of his brain. He has lived there ever since
Adam was boy, and his sole vocation is
( n 81 q in &c frI,c
about" as the boys call it, which is
long. slim, rickety wagon, and horse
with 6Xl2 gait, six inches into the air
and twelve ahead. Boards are placed
across at random, and as he thunders
over sticks and stones it threatens I'M
merciful disaster to the occupants. The
wheels are dished until they resemble
skeleton saucers, and have wobble like
the new Delsarte swing. The dashboard
is dashed with wire and rope in compli-
Gated tangle that would have made the
original gordian knot simple true low
er's knot. Every thump over the ruts
up the cool, winding road at the rivers
edge brought forth an agonizing groan
from the over-taX ed ''rush-aboutn and a
shrek of wild laughter from the passen-
gers. Patrick Henry tried to be happy.
erstwhile expecting his pride, his joy, his
only and original rush about' to col
lapse on the cold, damp earth.
With few exceptions the entire popu-
lace has the fishing craze, and at sight of
a party of them Workers. and parapher-
MALTA too numerous to talk about, were
ready to be of.
Just for one hour to slip the leash of worry.
In eager haste from thoughts impatient neck
And watch it courSing in its needless hurry
Disdaining duty's call or wisdom's beck
But not until they have assured them
selves that you are not a spy or an an
archist. We made a halt before fero-
cious bulldog, with small house in the
rear, to borrow an umbrella, a drink and
some directions. barefooted woman,
with dress tucked up after the fashion of
the Goddess of Liberty, peered around
the corner of the smokehouse and called
the canine to time with one fell shrek
that sent him yelping into obscurity with
his tail between his legs, firmly believing
the equinoctial storm had broken on his
head. On the other side who should an
pear but Bill Nye, as engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits, complete as to knotted
legs, butternut overalls, well spattered
with patches, wide hat and specs. Bill
stood sentinel-like and eyed us steadily
to make certain we were not non-union
steel workers on our way to Homestead.
and after learning our simple story
dropped his defensive attitude and in
CURED:
What might your names be?"
Where be you from ?''
Fright hefty load you've got''
Then he furnished umbrella and infor-
NATION, and even offered himself, only
she he'd some tobaccy withern' and
couldn't leave it." 1t was the one regret
of his life that he was unable to "g'long,u
The plan OF attack against the famous
black bass is simple. The Outlines
three in number, were set by Patrick
Henry the night before, and baited with
mutton to entice the toothsome eel. |
have an opinion of anybody who will eat
cells and deliberately, and without malice
aforethought, say they are good. Then
there is a kind of squirmy thing. first
cousin of the eel, called gar" with a
long bill, which gets caught just to be ag-
gravating, for they are not good TO eat. as
the eel is thought to be. Why 90 into
raptures over those wriggly things. and
declare the bright-eyed, plump little
lizard unfit to eat. Call in the rats and
mice, frogs and snailS and puppy dogs
tails" and let's have feast what is a
feast.
The outlines are about 800 feet in length.
and at intervals of some three feet hooks
are placed on short lines. a buoy and
anchor are placed at each end of the long
line, and it is left TO do its deadly duty.
All the good-for-nothing fishermen have
TO do is 10 sit on the banks and smoke
cigars. Senni-occaSionally they get in
their boats. row lazily out, and as one
rows along the line another takes up the
hooks. rebaits and diSentangles the bass
that is if there are any there to olsen
tangle.
Ananias was there-none other than the
old fellow himself. Mayhap it was his
phantom anchored in a flat-bottom boat,
else how could his string grow so stead
ily-eighteen, twenty, twenty-five, when
he had but four hooks out, and our 800,
halted with luscious active little catfish