The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-03-07
cAulsm. co,orr ANp rAeLr.


the mountains as clear, cold streams
fed by springs bubbling from the
cliff sides Flowing over rocks and
gravel, such waters, until they
emerge upon the plain, are filled
with the smartest sort of trout
with fine bass in some of the more
southerly streams--that one can
find anywhere. 1t is on the prairie,
where the currents become turbid,
warm, and alkaline, that the trout
and bass give place 10 the muddy
water fish. The river beds cut
wide and deep by floods, are choked
with sand, through which subter
ranean waters filter 50 that i'll even
a large river the normal current i'll
view may be only rivulet that
man can step across. In places
where the underground currant is
checked by a rock reef or a bed OF
clay it rises into view, widening in
to a poolthat displays its real vol
ume, and for some distance beyond,
until thirsty sands again absorb it.
flows as an open river of respectable
size.
Chief among the two or three
varieties of fishes that manage to
| thrive undes such conditions is the
catfish, which seems to find the
densely muddy water quite to his
liking and can accommodate HIM
self for long periods to short allow
ance even of that. Some people
'amiliar with their habits assert, in
apparent good faith, that these fish,
in times of drought, burrow down
into the wet sand and remain there
dormant until the seasons changes
bring water. But commonly, as a
stream dwindles low, the big fish
hunt deeper water, and may be
seen floundering down though its
shadows on their way to those
pools which do not dry up at any
season. Mullets and small catfish
make these migrations with com
parative ease, but to a thirty or
forty pound catfish such passage
often assumes much the character
of an overland journey.
Tom Toring, who was in town
!, last week from the Diamond X
ranch on the Pecos, tells of the lead.
ing part that catfish played in a
remarkable 9TH ee handed game
which he and Buck Sampson saw
about a month ago The two
| ranchmen, who were on a cattle
, hunt, were approaching the river
from the eastward. They had re-
marked an eagle which, highin the
air, was sailing i'll great circles
when, Just ahead of them, they OBJ
served a coyote trotting at good
pace along the bank, where the
prairie drops down sheer to the riv-
er's channel. He was heading
down stream, and was watching
something i'll the channel so intent
ly that he did not appear to mind
the two cowboys in the least, much
less try to get out Of their way.
Hes after a dinner, he is" said
Torling. He'd never skulk along
: with his nose poked ahead that way
unless he saw something he meant
to eat.
The coyote trotted swiftly along
the bank to point fifty or sixty
yards below the horsemen, and dis
, appeared over the brink. Buck
Sampson rode ahead and looked in
to the channel.
Holy Moses! Toni he called
Come up and tell me what this is
l believe it's whale, aloose and
tapping"
, "Recken you're right, Buck
said Tom, riding up to gaze in oper
wonder at what he saw.
'"Pears to me like the cuss is
slampeded."
| At this season the Pecos was run.
ming low, and had evidently beer
rapidly falling within the last few
days. The dry sandy channel was
a hundred yards wide from bank tc
bank, but all the river in view was
: rivulet, not six feet wide, mean
: dering down the middle. This riv-
ulet, about 200 yards below the
crossing, was swallowed in the
sands. A little further along the
= river appeared, full size, in broad
, deep pool, which the cowmen knew
as one that never dried up at any
season. Floundering down strean,
, along the shallow thread of water,
an immense catfish--the boys sci
his weight as being at least fifty
pounds, and Torling says he looked
hundred-was trying to make his
way from some point above down
to the pool 1t was literally pitch
and toss with the fish to keep his
gills wet, and every now and then
he would run aground and thrash
about until he got off into deeper
water.
Toward this aquatic wayfarer the
coyote was making the best of his
way. He was evidently much III
want of a dinner, but mistrusted
the water and the formidable pro-
portions and activity Of the catfish
with its expansive mouth, set of
by the queer looking feelers. After
running for while along the edge
of the stream and making a mum
Der of false motions, the coyote
snapped at the fish, which whirled
away, splashing the beast with wat
er, which he evidently dreaded as
if it had been fire. Drawing back
the coyote bounded away a few
yards, only to return to the edge OF