Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-05-17
A MAN FISH.

IOlu VI u lllTCS DOlu( ISL ullttO lO IdlluCO
with q five ounce rod last summer, and
another Of n seven pound blackfish caught
with similar rod by well known news
paper man, off the Great Kills, Staten Is
land, last summer. He was fishing for
snappers (blueflsh fry) and, hooking n
blackflsh in shallow water near an old
sunken wreck that lies there, fought it for
over an hour and landed it. So the fish
stories, true and otherwise, went on. FL
nally one Of the party, a gunner, said,
with laugh:
"To hear you fellows talk one would
think q six ounce trout pole and single
leader would land shark. Now, dust shot
will not kill an eagle though it may blind
him, and am little skeptical about these
fish stories"
The best fisherman of the party replied:
"Well, you arc a pretty good swimmer.
I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll bet you
suit of clothes that if you will play the
fish, with an ordinary trout line attached
to u swivel between your shoulders, 1, with
a six ounce pole, will land you and bring
you to bag"
The, bet was accepted, and a few days
later the contest came off in one of the
swimming baths of this city.
A piece of ribbon was passed in loop
over each shoulder of the man fish and fas-
tened between the shoulders to fair sized
swivel, to which was attached a 81 strand
English woven silk line which was reeled
on an ordinary 81 ounce trCMt rod. The
fisherman stood on the diving platform,
rod in hand, with the line rather slack,
and the fish stoodPalf way down the bath.
Tho fish was toaake n header, and this
was to constitute the strike Of the fish.
The victory was to be decided by the swim
mer reaching the end of the bath, or the
fisherman towing him within reach Of the
landing net twice out of three tries.
he signal given, in dived the fish, and
the fisherman gave him all the line he
wanted until his head appeared and then
put on n little strain, which turned the
swimmer slightly sidewise The fish, not
perceiving this for u second, struck out
strongly for the end of the bath, but the
strain, slight as it was, turned him more
and more around, and turning his head to
look he lost ground for breath and was
hauled over on his back. For an unin-
numbered swimmer to turn on to his chest
from his back is very easy, but with that
pull between the shoulders it is n very diff
fercnt matter. As finger under the chin
will hold a swimmer up when learning,
so that touch of finger on the line lowed
tho swimmer half way down the bath
before he could get the line slack and turn
again. BY that time he was nearly out OF
breath and still the trifling strain held him
just enough to impede him without stop
ping him.
Slowly and steadily he moved ahead,
-. q, -.
creased eXertion of the left arm, and seem.
ed in fair way of making the goal when,
zip, the point of the rod swung over and
aided by the strong sweep of the left arm
the strain caught the fish as if the butt
had been given, and round he came again
on his chest. A mad plunge to break the
line resulted only in "a loss of ten feet OF
line, but the swimmer secured his turn
and again set his face for the end. Moving
the point of the rod to the left to the
right, raising it, sinking it, catching the
man fish wherever he showed weak spot,
the willy angler played him right across
the open space, and within ten feet of the
end, and then, gauging the moment, he
gave him the butt, and snap went the line
and the fish struck home. One leg of the
three for the fish. Time, ~ minutes.
The fish had good rundown, hot
lemonade and rest of half an hour, and
then II fresh start was made This time
the angler was moro at home Carefully
handling the fish, he caught him rising
from the header, and promptly turned him
on his back in a way that surprised him,
and as the fish plunged to the bottom tc
try to break the line again (this being
tho equivalent of sparring for wind), an,
other round turn brought him to within
IL feet Of the fisherman, and struggle
as he might, he could not get away.
Plunge after plunge was of no avail and
only prevented further reeling in, until
finally lucky turn brought the fish over,
and he was promptly rcelcd in before he
could get on his chest again. Time, min
utes. Leg and leg.
Another rest was taken, and now the
fisherman wanted to back himself at tc
for the last leg, but not even the fish
seemed inclined to take him. This time
the fish dressed himself and rested an
hour, walking around and before going
in taking a strong rough rub. This time
a curious thing occurred. AS he dived in
his foot slipped, and he struck the water
sidewisc. The anglers had him on his back
under the water the next moment, and il
he had persisted in rccling him up would
possibly have drowned him, so helpless
was tho fish. Amid laughter he let up,
and the fish was allowed to land and start
again. This time successful header was
taken, and a strong fight made. Swim
ming solely with the side stroke, the fish
could see all the movements of the angler
and so forged ahead until the downward
stroke of his right arm swept the bottom
at the shallow end of the bath. FEELING
the shallow, with victory within reach
the fish turned his head, and that momen
the butt was given him, his feet were
swung aside and under, and before he
knew what had occurred he was in the
center of the BATH again. Once more he
tried the side stroke, but he was fast tir
ing, and the varying strain of the line,
now to the right now to the left soon put
the issue beyond doubt, and he was towed
within reach of the net in "a minutes.
The swimmer said he was more tired than
If he had swan n couple of miles in open
water and is inclined to believe any fish |
story told him during the present season.
New York Sun.
AntiuuitV of Beds.