The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-16
ELECTRIC ICE FISHING.
Incandescent Lamps Used to Lure
Hungry Fish to the Hook.

From the New York Sun
The recent spell of cold weather has
not confined its pleasure giving to the
skaters, for the ice fishermen have been
out in force. and some very good sport
has been enjoyed by them The latest
trick in ice fishing is the use of the
electric light. 1t was the Prince of Mo-
naco who first realized the possibilities
OF an electric light as lure for fish,
and he made the first deep sea trap with
ight in it, and reaped a rich harvest.
a battery can be made at a cost of
about "a, but 1t is easier to buy one for
about the same money. The outfit will
consist or two Jars, contained in a hard
wood box, with two clips to which to at
tach the wires of the two poles; a three
shallow glass jar Take the lamp and
twist about It's center some light WIRE
with loops sticking out in all directions,
and place 1t in the jar hanging it about
midway between top and bottom by pass
ing the current wires through the cork
and wedgng them tight The loop OF
wires about the lamp will serve to prevent
the glass from breaking when the bottle
swings about. A piece of inch-thick lead
is attached to the bottom of the bottle
to make 1t sink and hold it steady. This
lead is attached by strings to the neck
of the bottle, and a double cord is carried
up to the surface, so that the bottle may
be lowered or lifted without hauling on
the wires.
When the lamp is lowered into the water
and the current is turned on il will attract
every fish within 200 yards About four
feet to the right and left of the lamp
hole other poles are cut in the ice for
fishing. In these are placed the baited
hooks on the od-time tips-ups. The
light attracts the fish, and the bait and
the hunger of the fish do the rest The
lamp will cost about 80 cents for eight
hours. Care should be taken not to cut
the fishing holes too close together so as
to weaken the ice and make 1t danger
Gus. The best way ts to cut them in
a semi-circle at the back of the lamp
hole and approach them from the far side.
AS rule the tackle may be obtained on
the ground. If ii is taken along a braided
linen &C" line is the proper one, with a
number of large sproat hooks on good
and new gimp smells; gut is almost useless,
as 1t is liable TO tear from the rubbing
1T receives against the edge of the ice
when 1t is drawn up, and also because
ii is liable to get very brittle from cold.
1t is as we'll to remember that only
very sharp ak should be used to cut the
holes. AS to bait minnows are the best,
and in places where they make a specially
of Ice fishing, the local guides will have
plenty; but, as a matter of fact, the fish
are so hungry that they will take almost
anything eatable, and strip of salt pork,
if very thin and fairly long, will do, with
strips cut from the fish as they are caught.
The one idea should be to make the bait
as snowy as possible, for the cold dulls
the perceptions of the tish to a certain
extent, and they do not appear to see
as quickly as in warmer weather. AS
soon as they do. see the bait they go for
1t with ten times the Noracity. This is
the reason why in several states fish
ing through the ice has been forbidden by
law. The fish bite with such eagerness
that people are afraid the supply of fish
for the summer would be seriously depict
ed by the winter sport, and especially the
pike, pickerel and other game fish.
1t is cold work and a good fire on the
bank is essential, while warm clothing
worn. OF course, skating can be INDUCED
in at the same time, but If the ice fishing
is good the fisherman will not want to
bother about skating. If it is desired to-
keep the fish in perfect condition during
the day. A good plan is to take the AK
and chop out a trench two or three feet
long, one foot wide and nearly through
the ice; then bore tiny hole in the mid
die and let in the water. This makes a
perfect tank in which to put the fish and
If it is covered with piece of board it
enlarged to any size as the fish are
caught. The modern fisherman is spar
ing of the time-honored bottle. He has
discovered that coffee or chocolate are
infinitely more thanksgiving and sus-
tanning at the same time giving an ex-
ira zest for the fish broiled over the fire
when fresh caught
While the New Jersey lakes are uniyer-
sally held to be the best spots for ice fish
ing, it is good fun in almost all the streams
and ponds of Long Island Connecticut
and WestcheSter and Orange counties An
advertisement in one of the fishing pa-
pers for a good spot will bring any num-
Der of replies to noVices in the art; while
the fish men at the New York markets
if properly approached, will often nut a
stranger on to a good thing.