The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-09-26
ELECTROCUTlNG A BASS.


Altogether Successful.
Eyes, I've been fishing" remarked
| Mecliin, the lazy inventor, as he tilted
his chair and lit his pipe, at the same
time exhibiting a healthy coat OF sun
burn to his envious listeners. Have
any experiences? Well, yes. For one
thing, struck an elegant crowd of
liars all along the banks of the st.
Lawrence. They'd lie even about the
time of day. Familiarity with city
| fishermen causes it, | guess. l didn't
mind it-felt quite at home.
Did invent anything while was
away? Well, nothing great. I did
try to make bass fishing a little easier
though. You see, the bass were bit
ing elegantly, and they were as gamy
as you co<sld wish. Fact is, | got tired
fighting EN- for half an hour at
time, and l made up my mind that as
l vent fishing, fish was what l want
| ed, and l would find way to get EN-
into the boat without so much work.
Yes, know I'm lazy, but somehow 1
| get there. Well, / thought if I could
rig up Il device to electrocute bass as
soon as he was hooked I'd save my
self powerful lot of useless work. 1
/ got some batteries from the New York
| Central station agent at Clayton, and
there was Il fellow down in the electric
| light station who lent me big induc
/ ton coil. | bought a spool of very
fine copper wire and braided it in
with my bass line. Then l rugged up
| the batteries and induction coil in the
/ boat and fixed switch so as I could
I throw the current by moving the
! lever with my foot. Nose, the guide,
was n little fearful Of the outfit at
/ first, but he finally got accustomed
to it.
/ " We started out one morning with
our apparatus ready to send about
forty thousand volts through any fool
bass that tackled my hook l east out
my line soon after we started and
pretty soon felt bass nibbling the
bait. | gave him little slack and
then struck in the hook as hard as
could | let him monkey around u
little while just to give him chance
to escape an awful and certain death
Then | threw the lever with nv foot
and let him have the juice. Say, l
didn't kill him for cent. He liked it.
That bass stood still in the water for
minute, and then when he realized that
he was absolutely free he was the most
joyous and frislly fish you eser heard
Of He started out straight from the
stern of the boat, turning somersaults
for pure happiness. At every leap he'd
make the old reel hum. l got tired
and wished he d break the line and get
away and leave me alone. But no, sir;
he was just having fun with me. FL
nally, believe I'd have cut the line to
get rid OF him if | hadn't wanted to see
the annoying critter. At last Nose
suggested that | shut eff the current.
l did. The bass suIked then and wig
gled the line, trying to show me that
he wanted more. Presently he quit
that and came in toward the boat. 1
reeled in the line and he came clear
up and into the scoop net as easy as a
little sunhsh. When he got into the
boat he Topped around until he had
inspected the batteries, the coil and
and died. l honestly think that the
only reason that bass gave up was to
get into my boat and see what it was
that gave him such delightful sensa-
tions. Electrical Review.