The Indianapolis journal., 1896-04-26
spEARING PICKEREL.
Winter Sport on La Pleasance Bay-A
Story for Boys.

Rob Campbell was all in a glow of excite
ment over the preparations for his favorite
sport of spearing pickerel through the ice.
and ne could scarcely wait TIL the hearty
lunch was stored in the basket. and all his
wraps and traps gotten together from the
four corners of the house by his mother. 1t
was the first real cold day since vacation be-
gan, and Rob had long been watching the
thermometer with cloudy brow, and longing
for the weather to grow cold enough to risk
moving his fish house down to La Pleasance
bay. where as many as fifty ether fish houses
were located. Rob generally went all alone.
but this time John Graham, a young boy
from the city, in the interior of the State,
was going to accompany him. and mischiev-
Gus Rob anticipated not a little sport at the
inexperience and ignorance of his city friend
in everything pertaining to outdoor amuse-
ments. John was shv.. book-worm sort of
boy, and 1t required some persuasion on Rob's
part to induce him to go. The two boys
finally started with the square box Of a fish
house, which on runners and was pulled
by the old horse, Blackie, as far as farmer
Adams's, who lived on the bay Here Rob
put the horse in warm barn. $and the two
boys then dragged the house two miles fur
ther down the bay. where the fishermen set
tlement was. After selecting good site the
boys cut a hole in the ice, showed the house
over II and banked 1t up solidly with blocks
of ice and snow.
How clear the ice is,' exclaimed John.
lone can see the grass plainly, and even the
fish swimming by.''
1.-The ice is mighty pretty, and it can make
music, too," Rob answered. Just wait
while and you will hear cracking and split
ting which Is as loud and sudden as a can
non."
Opening a little door in one side of the
shanty, Rob entered and told John to foY-
low and sit down on the bench which ex-
tended across the room.
What jolly little stove that is" John
cried, as Rob opened a tiny stove which
stood in one corner and made rousing fire
in 1t. "But why do you keep your house
SO dark, Rob?'
''why, John Graham, don't you know
that the fish won't come IL they see ray of
light?" Rob answered in comical disgust.
'Just see how tight and dark my house is:
even the chimney hole is covered with lime.
and have lined the hole through which
the spear handle passes with channels leath-
er. that the spear will work 9asily up
and down. don't believe there is q house on
the lake that can compare with mine, even
II did make it all myself" he added
proudly.
THAT is why the walls and ceiling are
painted black. I suppose" John remarked.
after carefully inspecting the interior Of the
''shanty'
"Oh. yes; the inside must be perfectly
black, and the only hole in the entire house
is in the roof right above the water, which
Is made to allow the spear to pass through.
You know my spear handle is fifteen feet
long, and the shanty being only five by five
we must have a hole to make room for the
spear
"Do we frighten the fish of by talking?'
John suddenly exclaimed.
"Yes," Rob answered. laughing. "They
have splendid hearing, though they can't
boast Of as big ears as yours, and you must
not utter whisper after they begin to bite
at the decoy."
John accordingly sat down In the corner.
and watched Rob with wide open eyes as he
played his decoy, and adroitly reproduced
the many evolutions OF the fish swimming in
the water The shy book-worm was so ig-
norant Of the simplest facts In the ordinary
boys sports, that Rob longed to guy him q
little. but il seemed too bad to take such
mean advantage of his innocence. and, with
really commendable effort. he restricted
himself to telling John some large fish
stories. Of the hauls he had made. and the
enormous size of the fish, AS no pickerel APP
peared after long and patient waiting, John
could not resist the temptation OF asking
more questions Of Rob. who had inspired
| him with genuine respect for his wide and
varied knowledge in the outdoor sports. OF
! which the studious John knew 50 little.
| Rob Campbell was sixteen years old. and
| as merry. and mischievous, and dauntless .
| lad as could be found in the town Of Mon
| roe. Skilled In every manly sport and hard
| ened by outdoor exposure in his long skat-
! ing and fishing expeditions, he could not
| understand John Graham's gentle and retir.
| ing manners. ana there was mingled Ia hil
| good-humored treatment OF him just shade
| Of contempt John Vas sixteen, too. but h
was many years aheod of Rob IA hls sta16f>u