The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-02
MR.. EMERIC'S DREAM.
The Fish Commissioner Tells How
He Came to Invent His Fa-
Simmer.

nous Spinner.
Fish Commissioners Emeric and Muir
dock had read in the CALL that Charles
Fair had written to Henry Skinner that
he (Charles Fair) had taken about the first
of the summer school of salmon at Santa
Cruz. They were at once ready for the en-.
counter with the lordly fish. They took
Henry Skinner into their confidence and
showed him can chock full of fresh
sardines, laid nicely and snugly down in
brine.
This apparently was Mr.. Murdock's
device, for he removed the lid with a sort
OF boastful tenderness and called SINNERS
attention to the contents. The champion
hy-catcher asked very naturally:
"Why don't you wait and get your sar-
dimes down there, Mr.. Murdock?"
The Fish Commissioner smiled pleas
antly at the 1nquiring Skinner.
''ln the first place, Henry" he said,
"because the sardines are hard to get at
Santa Cruz just now. In the second place,
vention, and if L bought my sardines in
Santa Cruz no one would see it,"
Here Mr.. Emeric, whose name will go
down to posterity in connection with his
marvellous spinner, took part in the con-
versation. Your pride in your can is
quite laudable, Murdoch" he said, "but
you might have lived to the age of Methu-
selah and never invented spinner"
Perhaps you are right, rejoined Mr..
Murdoch, coldly, 'but of this thing be
sure, that if [ ever did invent spinner it
will be spinner that will be good for more
than one jays work"
An ominous flush came on Mr.. Emeric's
bronZed features.
"Do you mean, MURDOCH" he said
nnIHIU
spinner-the Emeric spinner"
Certainly not" replied Mr.. Murdoch
cordially.
"Of course not" said Mr.. Skinner, throw
ing oil upon the troubled waters. "The
entire fishing community owes a debt of
gratitude to Mr.. Emeric for his spinner"
The white wings of the dove of peace
having been thus adroitly induced to cast
their harmonious shade over the anglers,
Mr.. Emeric explained that the manufac-
turers put up his spinners with degree of
tragility which, though good perhaps for
the trade, was apt to bring curse words
to the angler who saw his fish, after a
moderate strain on the line, sail off with
the tackle business in his mouth.
Perish these recollections," said Skin
ner. 81 hope, gentlemen, that you will
both do good work at Santa Cruz"
And then Commissioner Emeric went on
to tell how he invented his famous spin
ner. It happened one day on Lake
Lagunitas. Mr.. Emeric had fished long
and faithfully with a spoon that would not
spin. Then he sat down under the shade
of one of the monster madrones that grew
on the lake shore and fell asleep.
1t might have been an hour, but as a
matter of record it was only ten minutes
ere Mr. Emeric awoke. There was glad
and triumphant smile upon his handsome
face, he stalked toward his boat lying idly
at her moorings, with the air of man who
had solved problem, and there were the
most substantial reasons for his self-gra tu-
lation.
During that dream the combination of
the spinner which was to bear his name
for all succeeding time came to him all
unsolicitous that he was. With quick but
intelligent action he twisted the wire into
the revealed shape, and while cloud for
second lay across the broad face of the
sun the first Emeric spinner was launched
on the bosom of Lake Lagunitas. The
trout sprang for it, and the triumphant
inventor laughed till the bordering woods
echoed his glee and the predatory heron
spread its wings and directed its clumsy
flight to the solitudes of Tamalpais noun
tain. When Mr.. Emeric's basket was full
he left the lake, feeling that his memory
was safe and that the traveller from Nova
Scotia, seated perchance on broken arch
of the Roman bridge of Stow Lake, might
sketch the ruins of Huntington Falls.