The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-16

now Capt. A. r. Leake Took the BIG
Fellow From Lake Washington.
Among the Washington Worlds fair
fish specimens will be three-pound trout
taken from Lake Washington by Capt. A.
4. Leake. 1t took the captain long time
to secure the big fellow, and . peculiar in.
cident was connected with the achieve
ment. The morning was dark and dreary,
but, true to the traditions of fishermen,
Capt. Leake was on tho water in quest of
game. At point somewhere near the en-.
trance to Union bay he anchored his boat
and threw out few salmon eggs. A bub-
bic appeared, and it became sure thing
that sport was at hand. A clump bait
was put on, and the cast made. The in
slant 1t struck the water there was flash
of silvery side and the line became taut.
Unfortunately for the captain, he does not
believe in the reel, 80 he was compelled to
cope with large. quick and powerful trout
without other appliances than . fifteen.
foot line and stiff pole. The maneuver-
ing commenced. and it was q sight worth
watching. The fish headed to tho right
and down. but by q dexterous turn Of the
pole he was made to swing around and 90
to the left. The pole bent to the water,
and it seemed as if the slender line would
break. The captain became interested in
his work, stood up and as he warped the
unwilling trout from one side to the other
chewed his tobacco vigorously and spit all
over his &hiskers. His eyes fairly snapped
with delight as he noticed let up on the
line and raised the pole several feet with
out feeling any resistance other than
the dead weight of the fish. Guess I've
got him winded." he muttered, as be got
sight of an open mouth in the water. This
seemed to be the state of affairs, and it
looked as il the victory was won. Appar-
entity played out, the giant trout of the
lake allowed himself to be brought to the
surface and his head to come out Of the
water.
1t was sight worthy Of an artist-the
triumphant fisherman and the worn-out
king of the water. In an instant q change
took place. Mastering all his strength for
a final effort, the fish suddenly ducked.
and as the pole was allowed to follow,
made straight away from the boat. The
captain tried to swing him to one side and
then the other, but was unsuccessful, and
when the line became taut the leader
broke. and it was .'good bye. big fish,"
The captain looked at his leader, found
that four feet Of it had disappeared. and
after musing for few moments on the I'm.
certainties OF life went to the house for
breakfast. The idea Of losing that fish
troubled the captain so much that he
kicked himself, or at least 1t was 50 re-
ported. Finally he concluded to go down
TO the hole and try his luck again.
After taking out one or two small fish,
he got hold of a big one. and again COM
menced . battle. For ten minutes tho
fight continued, when the captain sue
ceeded in drowning the game and brought
il alongside the boat, where he could grab
through the gills. As he raised his prize
into tho boat he noticed . long white
string sticking out of the mouth, and on
examining found that it was the leader he
had lost few hours before. When the
fish was placed on the scales 1t tipped
them At three pounds.