The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-26
THREE NATIVES OF PIKE.
BY DAN DE GUILE.
rCopyright, 1882, by American Press ascot
ation.l
PROLOGUE.

s'millionaire Comstockers" who went
over to Washoe lake on a piscatorial ex-
petition The fish there to be caught
are principally that species of catfish
known in the Atlantic states as horned
pouts or bullheads.
knights of the angle" of the present
day are apt to turn up their noses when
mention is made of bullhead fishing.
Generally, however, when man goes
out after catfish he sinks all artistic
feeling-he goes in for ''meat."
1t is an easy matter to catch catfish.
You have only to procure tackle strong
enough to draw them out Of the water,
using hook according to the expected
size of your game. The size of the cat
fish appears to be good deal regulated
by the size of the stream or lake in which
it is found. The larger the body of water
the bigger the fish.
AS already stated, we were small
party of Comstockers, and were at
Washoe lake more for ''meat" than
sport. Of course all fishing is to some
extent satisfying to mans inherent in
stinct for the capture and slaughter
of all wild creatures of land, water and
air.
We had strewed the shore with several
score of bullheads when we saw ap-
preaching us through the tules border
ing the lake three men, who by their
dress and lack of both coat and vest
appeared to be ranch hands employed in
the neighborhood. The men seemed to
be merely strolling about in the enjoy
ment of half holiday, as they carried
neither guns nor fishing tackle.
The trio had probably sighted our
tent and wagon from afar, and knowing
from previous pleasant experiences that
all true fishermen fail not to go forth
well provided with the wherewithal to
counterfeit the bad effects of an acct
dental wetting had resolved to pay us
friendly visit. in full confidence that the
rights of camp hospitality would not be
neglected by our party. At all events,
the trio, moving in Indian file, marched
up to our temporary camp pitched on
the margin of the lake, and greeted us
with three stentorian shelloes!"
Their greeting having been duly an
swered in kind, it was next in order to
bear in mind the social amenities and
uncork the s.hospitalities" of the camp.
1t soon became evident that no one of
the trio had ever been whipped when
young for holding his breath. They
showed themselves to be willing and Ca
pable men.
All were stalwart fellows of six feet
to six. feet four inches in height, and all
were big jointed and rawboned-not an
ounce of superfuous flesh from head to
heels. All wore boards Of the billy
goat style, all were shaded by huge
sombreros, and all were somewhat
above middle age; also We're as much
alike as three candles cast in the same
mold.
At first our visitors were somewhat
backward in speech and manner, but by
the time they had made some progress
in the congenial task of testing the sew
eral kinds of liquid provender with
which tent and wagon were stocked
their tongues were loosened; they felt
quite at home.
Presently the tallest and apparently
the Oldest of the trio said the sight of
catfish made him feel young again.
"But, fellers," said he, 81 don't much
keer to fool with SIGH ornery, wuthless
little tadpoles as you've been ketchin.
I'm from ole Missouri, l am. Down
thar, when yer ketch a catfish, you're
a-layin in provisions. When you've
hooked yer cat you jist take yer line
over yer shoulder, hump yer back, march
inland and haul your meat ashore. It's
jist as easy to ketch big catfish as little
ones if thar's any big ones about; it all
depends on the size Of the hook and the
bigness of the bait. Why, back thar on
the old Mississippi I could gauge the
iize of the cat wanted to an ounce jist
by the proper regerlation of the hook
and bait. Now, fellers, jist You watch
me. Eff thar's catfish in this lake as is
with cuss I'll ketch him."
"Yaas, fellers," said the other Pixies.
"Buck, he's a cuss at fishin; you just
watch his motion. He'll show yer how
to ketch cats"
With a face as sober as that of New
England deacon, Buck went up the hill
q few PAGES above our tent and got hold
of about sixty feet of heavy fencing
WIRE, This he dragged down to the
edge Of the lake, and turning up one end
of it made hook about two feet across.
Going down the shore few rods he re-
turned with about half Of an old red
flannel shirt, which he fastened upon his
hook for bait. Next he got piece of
plank about siI feet long and fastened it
upon his wire line for float. This done,
he took up the plank and launched hook
and all out sorls two rods from shore
with tremendous plash.
"Never mind me skeerin away yer
little MINERS" said Buck to our party;
you've treated us like full grown white
men and now I'll soon ketch you suthin
with while-that is, s'posin thar's airy
rale old Mississippi cat in this ERE frog
pond"
Buck then seated himself upon little
hillock of TUES and gazed out at his
float with com;cally serious look of ex-
pectation.
The other Pikes-for all three of our