Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-05-07
4 MAN CAUGHT.
EXPERIENCES WHICH INCLINE A STRONG
SWIMMER TO BELIEVE BIG FISH
STORIES.

EXPERIENCES WHICH INCLINE A STRONG
SWIMMER TO BELIEVE BIG FISH
STORIES.
Half dozen men were talking trout
In one Of the uptown hotels, after
shad supper, the other night, says the
New York Sun. One of the party told
of three-pound fish that he landed with
q five-ounce rod last summer, and an
other Of 4 seven-pound blackfish caught
with similar rod by q well-known
newspaper man, Of the Great Kills,
Staten Island, last summer. He was
fishing for snsppers (blueflsh fry), and
hooking BLACKLIST In shallow water,
near an old suuken wreck that lies there,
fought 1t for over an hour, and landed It.
SO the fish stories, true and otherwise,
went on. Finally one OF the party, q
gunner, said with laugh:
'sTo hear you fellows talk one would
think sixOunce trout pole and single
leader would land q shark. Now, dust
shot will not kill an eagle, though 1t
may blind him, and am little skepti-
Cal about these fish stories"
The best fisherman Of the party re-
piled:
swell, you are pretty good SWIM
mer. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll bet
you suit Of clothes that II you will
play the fish, with an ordinary trout line
attached to swivel beneath your
shoulders, l, with six-ounce pole, will
land you aud bring you to bag" The
bet was accepted, and few days later
the contest Came of In one OF the swim
ming baths Of this city.
A piece OF ribbon was passed In loop
over each shoulder of the man fish, and
fastened between the shoulders to fair
sized swivel, to which was attached a
thirty-seven strand English woven silk
line, which Was recled on an ordinary
five and half ounce trout rod. The
fisherman stood on the diving platform,
rod In hand, with the line rather slack,
and the fish stood half way down the
path. The fish was to take a header,
and this was to constitute the strike OF
the fish. The victory was to be decided
by the swimmer reaching the end OF the
bath, or the fisherman towing him with
In reach Of the landing net twice out OF
| tilftt ttits.
The signal given, In dived the fish
and the fisherman gave him all the line
he wanted until his head appeared, and
then put on little strain which turned
the swimmer slightly sidewise. The fish
not perceiving this for second, struck
out strongly for the end OF the bath, but
the strain, slight as 1t was, turned him
more and more around, and turning hi:
head to look, he lost ground for breath
and was hauled over on his back. Fol
an unincumbered swimmer to turn on to
his chest from his back Is very easy, bu,
with that pull between the shoulders II
Is very different matter. As fingel
under the chin will hold swimmer uI
when learning, so that touch OF a nngei
on the line lowed the swimmer halfway
down the path before he could get thu
line slack and turn again. BY that time
he was nearly out of breath, and still thu
trifling strain held him just enough L
impede him without stopping him.
Slowly and steadily he moved ahead
combating the side strain this time b,
increased exertion Of the left arm, ant
seemed in fair way Of making the goal
when zip, the point Of the rod swuni
. over, and aided by the strong sweep o
the left arm the strain caught the fish a
IL the butt had been given, and round h
came again on his chest. A mad plung
To break the line resulted only in los
OF ten feet Of line, but the swimmer Sc
cured his turn and again set his face 70
the end. Moving the point OF the ro'
TO the left, to the right, raising IL, sink
ing il, catching the man fish whereve
he showed weak spot, the willy angle
played him right across the open space
and within ten feet of the end, and then
gauging the moment, he gave him tn
butt, and snap went the line, and Tn
fish struck home. One leg Of the thre
for the fish. Time, seven minutes and
quarter.
The fish had good rub down, no
. lemonade, and rest Of half an hour
and then fresh start was made. Thi
time the angler was more at home
Carefully handling the fish he caugh
him rising from the header and prompt
ly turned him on his back in way tina
surprised him, and AS the fish plunge'
! 10 the bottom TO try and break the lin
again (this being the equivalent OF spar
ring for wind another round turf
brought him to within twelve feet Of tn
fisherman, and struggle as he might, n
could not get away. Plunge afte
plunge was of no avail, and only pre-
vented further Keeling In, until finally I
lucky turn brought the fish over, and b
was promptly reeled in before he coul'
get on his chest again. Time, fou
minutes. Leg and ley.
Another rest was taken, and now tn
, fisherman wanted TO back himself at fiv
, TO one for the last leg, but not even tn
fish seemed inclined 10 take him. Thi
time the fish dressed himself and rested
an hour, walking around and befor
going in taking strong rough rub
This time a curious thing occurred. \
he dived in, his foot slipped and b
=. struck the water sidewise. The quic
r angler had him on his back under I'll
water the next moment, and II he ha
9 persisted In Keeling him up would posi-
bly, have drowned him, so helpless Wa
the fish Amid laughter he let up. an
E the fish WAS allowed to land and star
again. This time successful heade
was taken and strong fight made
| Swimming solely with the side stroke
the fish could see all the movements o
the angler, and so forged ahead until tn
downward stroke OF his right arm swep
the bottom at the shallow end OF tn
5 bath. Feeling the shallow, with victor
within reach, the fish turned his head
ard that moment the butt was give
him, his feet were swung aside an
under, and before he knew what had oC
. Cured he was in the centre OF the bat
2 again. Once more he tried the sid'
stroke, but he was fast firing, and tn
varying strain OF the line, now to tn
right, now to the left, soon put the issu
beyond doubt, and he was tOwed withi
, reach Of the net In seven minutes and
third. The swimmer said he was NOR
. tired than IL he had swum a couple o
miles in open water, and IL inclined Z
believe any fish story told him durin
the present season.
: NOT ALTOGETHER A STRANGER.
81 s'pose I'll have TO go and get some
body to identify me before you'll cas-
"a