The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-05

FIshinE Through Fee for the Great FROST
in Northern Maine.

GREESviLLE, Me-, April 2.-Although the
spring Ia we'll along and the open-water fishing
only about six or seven weeks away. the fisher
men still drop their lines through the Ice for
togue or "laker " trout In Moosehead Lake. The
heavy enow. which hindered the sport for a
time. has settled down solidly upon the Zoe, and,
through thaws and freezlngs, has become =
semi-icy coating over which one can travel
easily on foot or with a team. SO the fishermen
can get about handily, and many who missed
the first fishing at the beginning OF open time.
in February. are now on the lake making mp for
IL with their hand lines and tip-ups. and they
may have. II they wish. several weeks sport.
The togue. tho largest OF all trout In Eastern
waters, is not the same sort OF fish in every 10.
cality. In the Schoodic waters. and In the upper
lakes OF the Scbec chain, he IL q symmetrical,
light-tinted fish. as handsome and as fine to eat
as the speckled trout. At Moosehead Lake,
where he grows the largest, he Is at maturity n
dark, hlnck-spotted. massive fellow. with q
heavy head, an UNDERLYING, hooked jaw. and
savage teeth. Here toVue have been caught
that tipped the scales at twenty.sevcn pounds.
1t Is only in lakes and ponds, never in run
ming water. that the toRue Is to be found. In
summer he lies in deep water, near the bottom.
lie is not often hooked ut n depth OF less than
twenty feet, and usually the fisherman must
sink his hook lower than this TO find him. From
the cool depths he makes excursions for the
minnows, sreckled trout, cusk. whiteflsh. and
the smaller togue. which are his ordinary diet,
NhliN Il'hoI" WIZ lSs anu E'llhl NV Ilillh alll-
mails all come to his NAV when he Is out for a
dinner, He is a, voracious eater, and II Is not
unusual for n fisherman to find n two-pound
trout In the stomach and outlet of a large togue,
still hungry enough to seize n bait. In the
he goes into shoalcr waters. and will chase his
prey ms near the shores as the ice will permit
him TO go. From five to ten feet is the usual
depth Mt which he IL caught In winter fishing,
but where streams come into a lake. ana In
other places where minnows are to be found,
big togue have been caught in a foot of water.
Winter fishing has II great attraction for
many people, and not a few prefer it to the
summers sport. There are fishermen from cities
out Of tho State who choose the frozen season
for their visits to the Maine lakes. There is no
rush Of visitors then. aud such hotels as arc
himself: Besides, in winter fishing he can have
legally I'VE Ines n the water at once instead of
mer. The fish are in fine condition. and regard
ing the togue. the kind he is after. there is no
statute limiting the number he may catch in
one trip, though. as In the case of other varieties
of trout. he cannot sell them or give them away.
Is Off Deer Isle in Moosehead Lake. One of the
hotels is open In summer and winter. saw
and guides. The fisherman starts out in the
morning at sunrise. after IA substantial break
a part; His destination is a little movable
sentry box of n house. set out on the ice of the
lake, at the right distance from shore to secure
the best fishing for togue. Winter fishing is a
more companionable sport than summer ang-
ling, and usually two or more fishermen start
out together. They haul a hand-sled on which
are loaded finely split stovewood, blankets,
bait. aud other supplies for the days needs.
The little fishing house will shelter comfortably
two persons. 1t covers two holes cut in the ice.
80 that when the fishermen are within it each
may watch his hand line, while keeping an eve
upon his tip-ups through the little glazed win
dows in each side of the house. The building IL
t1oOred with boards and is warmed by a small
stove. The first thing the fishermen do on ar
irving at the grounds is to bait and set the lines.
which necessitates the cutting and removing of
an inch or so of ice that has frozen across the
fishing holes during the night. Each fisher
man sets four lines. stout cords with large
strong hooks like those used in taking pickerel.
The hooks, baited with live minnows or cut
bait. are let down to within a foot of the bot
Then. having adjusted the tip-ups. the
fishermen come back to the fishing house and
start n fire In the stove. Each drops his fifth
lighting pipes, they prepare to pass the day
comfortably.
When the tngue. along. decides to
take the bait. he does not rush Mt it. Int calmly
swallows II as he moves slowly onward. The
shorter end of the tip-up Is pulled down. and the
end with the red signal goes up. informing the
fisherman in the house that he had better be
minding the fish on his hook. The fish tugs
steadily away. with the line over his shoulder, !
the fisherman arrives at the spot to haul
with any pretension of science. The hook
Is SO large and the line so strong that
there is no. fear that either will break.
and he gets the fish out upon the ice rs quickly
as he can. The chances are that 1t is a togne.
two or three pounds, but 1t is also
possible that the fisherman has really hooked
Inc big fish he has waited for so long. and, haul
ing strong with both hands. as IL getting up an
he drags him in all his length and
through the hole into tho da Wight, a
will furnish n text for his best fish story for all
the rest of his days.