The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-08-16
SPEAKING A BIG FISH.
Taking the Powerful Mu.callonge at Night.


 A lucky fisherman at Conesius lake, near Groveland, N. Y., is reported as having caught recently the largest muscallonge ever taken from the lake. The great fish of the pike species in the Adirondack lakes, sometimes called a pickerel, is said to be true muscal- longe. These fish grow to the length of four or five feet, and trolling for them is one of the finest sports of the region, but is not thing to be under taken by novice unless he has been warned beforehand what to expect. If he has not, he may come to regret his good luck, for a full-grown muscal- longe is anything but pleasant com panion in one of the light Adirondack boats.
 A stout billet, the size and weight of carriage spoke or policeman's night stick, is handy thing to have along if you are liable to catch a muscallonge. The wise thing is to stun the fish with a blow as his head appears over your gunwale, and then to bleed him at leisure.
 
 easily come near to soaring a green hand into the water. An old-time guide of the Paul Smith region, having gone travelling without the convenient club, had an ugly five minutes with a great fish, but finally triumphed by sit ting on his catch and rowing ashore
 Spearing muscalbnge by night is a sport occasionally indulged in at a permanent camp near Paul Smiths. It happens that the camp is on an island in small lake, and the fleet of light boats kept in all camps is re-enforced by great scow, used mostly for carrying freight. When the guests and the residents of the camp are to see the sport of spear fishing torch of pine knots is hung in an iron basket over the bow of the boat, and an apron of sheet iron is hung behind the torch to protect the passengers from the heat and glare. Then with torch faring the boat is slowly rowed out into the lake and toward some shallow bay, where the fish commonly turk.
 The guide stands well poised on the bow deck, spear in hand, and keen eyes scanning the bottom through the clear, shallow water. The spear is a five tined affair with long handle, to which is attached rope. The whole scene as the boat moves toward the ex- pected prey is filled with the peculiar charm of the Adiron- dack region. A pine-clad mountain is dimly outlined on the dis tant horizon, and upon all sides rise wooded banks that shut in the little patch of black water with its reflected stars. Half mile across the lake rises the high little island of the camp with parti-colored lanterns twinkling among the trees. The guides tall figure is clarified by the flaming torch, and the boat moves forward over its track of light with airy walls of darkness press upon it from the rear.
 The stroke comes suddenly when the spear leaves the guides right hand, glides swiftly through his left, and plunges into the water four or five feet ahead of the boat. Oars are arched and as the guide seizes the end of his spear and jabs it viciously at the bot tom, everyone waits eagerly until it shall be drawn.
 Slowly and with caution the guide lifts his spear, and then presently holds aloft in the glare of the torch a great fish pierced mayhap through and through, but yet wriggling his glisten- ing sides a-quiver, his fierce eyes glar- ing upon the inhabitants of air, into whose presence he has been so sudden ly summoned.
 The fish, when sufficiently exhibited, is placed in the bottom of the boat and killed, if the spear has not already thoroughly done the work. A spearing party with ladies is usually content with single strike, and the guide is glad to be let off with but one exhibi- tion of his kill, as the true Adirondack guide is a taciturn person, averse to theatric display.
 It is good deal easier to learn the trick of shooting the Adirondack deer than that of spearing the muscallonge. The latter seems to demand something of the quickness, suppleness and cer- tainly of the naked savage that speared fish in the Adirondack lakes centuries before they became the resort of rich white men.-N. Y. Sun.