The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-08-11
SpEARlNG a BIG FISH.
Taking the Powerful Muscalionse at Sief

near Groveland. y. Y. is reported a:
having caught recently the largest
muscallonge ever taken from the lake.
The great fish of the pike species in the
Adirondack lakes. sometimes called q
pickerel, is said to be a true muscal
lOnge. These fish grow to the length
OF four or five feet, and trolling fol
them is one of the finest sports of the
region. but is not a thing to be under
taken by a novice unless he has been
warned beforehand what to expect. II
he has not, he may come to regret his
good luck. for a full-SrOwn muscal.
longe is anything but Il pleasant com,
panion in one of the light Adirondack
boats.
\ stout billet. the size and weight OF
a carriage spoke or a policeman's night
stick. is a handy thing to have along il
you are liable to catch a muscallonge.
The wise thing is to stun the fish with
a blow a his head appears over your
gunwale, and then to bleed him at
leisure.
II this prccaution is neglected he may
easily come ear to soaring 4 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 muscallonge by night is a
sport occasionally INDUCED in at a
permanent camp near Paul Smiths.
1t happens that the camp is on an island
in a small lake. and the fleet of light
boats kept in all camps is REINFORCED
by 4 great scow, used mostly
for carrying freight. When the guests
and the residents of the camp are 10
see the sport of spear fishing 4 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 fiaring the
boat is slowly rowcd out into the lake
and toward soIne 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 Il five
tined affair with a long handle. to
which is attached a rope. The whole
scene as the boat moves toward the eX-
pected prey is filled with the
peculiar charm of the Adiron-
dack region. y pine-clad mountain
is dimly outlined on the dis
tant horizon, and upon all sides rise
wooded banks that shat in the little
patch of black water with its reflected
stars. Half a 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 V its track of
light with airy walls of darkness press
upon it from the rear.
The stroke IN 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 beat. Oars are archcd
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 mayEap through and
through, but yet wr:ggling his glisten-
ing sides a-9uiver. his fierce eyes glar-
ing upon the inhabitants of air. into
whose presence he has been so sudden
" summoned.
The fish. when sufficiently exhibited.
is placed in the bottom of the BOAT and
killed, ii the spear has not already
thoroughly done the work. \ spearing
party with ladies is usually content
with n single strike. and the guide is
glad to be let off with but one exhibit
ton of his kill, as the true Adirondack
guide is a tacitlrn person, averse to
theatric display.
1t is Il good dea. 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 GER
tainly of the naked savage that speared
fish in the Adirondack lakes centuries
before they became the resort of rich
white MEM. y. Sun.