The Republican journal., 1896-09-03
That settled it. Fred is six feet, if he is

IN the habit years ago OF remaining very
much as he wished. Five miles farther
and we arrived at the narrows, the en-
trance from the bay into the lake. Close
in shore, under the western point, was
small steamer with party of gentlemen
on board fishing. We passed the usual
compliments with them, and as we were
about rowing away one of the party asked
if We had ever seen a large togue. We re-
piled in the negative.
"Well, those fellows in there''-point-
ing to camp on the opposite point
caught fifteen FOUNDER last night and
it will pay you to 60 in and see it,
We Immediately rowed across and land
ing walked up to the house. We found
therein a party from Bangor with whom
we were well acquainted. They had taken
large togue the previous afternoon and
were anxious for us to take it to Green
vile and express it to Bangor. This, of
course, we were glad to do, and while we
were waiting for it to be packed they in
sisted that we take their boat and gear
and try our luck iii the togue ground.
This we decided to do, and carefully To-
eating the place we rowed out. The
wind, in the meantime, had sprung up,
and quite large swell was rolling in from
jumping about in an uneasy manner.
However, reaching the ground, we cast
over our anchor and got out the lines.
To one accustomed to light rods and
silk lines it was queer looking gear. There
were long heavy linen lines, and the sink
ers must have weighed at least pound.
Their owners had come up with the ex-
pressed determination of catching a large
fish, and had prepared themselves accord
ingly We loaded the big hooks with a
half pound duIgin and cast over, all the
while laughing at each other that we
should have finished our trip by degener-
ating into hand fishermen.
A bar makes across the entrance to the
lake, and we had anchored in the deep
water ust back of it ON the bay side.
knew it was good togue ground; l had
heard of it before We had about thirty
feet of water, and had hardly reached
bottom when | got bite; it held, and
brought in a fish which weighed a trihe
over six pounds; this was encouraging,
and rebaiting my hook as quickly as pos
sible, | again threw over. In less than
ten minutes l got another bite, and this
was bite indeed; the fish not only bit
savagely, but at the same time started off
with a rush which took the heavy line
through my fingers in a manner that rails
ed blisters.
''Do you mean to say you have fish
you can't snub with that gear?' cried
Fred
1T looks like it, I replied, trembling
with suppressed excitement; she certain
ly is very much alive.
l soon stopped him; then, quietly and
steadily as possible, gathered in as much
line as l could, also bringing him up a
short distance from the bottom. Back he
went again and sulked. l paused, breath
lessly, and looked at my companion.
Say, old man. said he, ''this is too
much; should have had this one. You
got the other"
''Well,' replied, smiling, she evident
ly heard the remark you made along back,
that you didn't wish for any more fish.
My remarks were cut short by frantic
rush of the fish far below. He was I'M
easy, and had not the least idea of being
taken in if by any means in his power he
could prevent it. | was in mortal terror
all the while, fearing the line might take
turn about something and let him tear
away. After working some twenty min
utes | succeeded in getting him up where
we could see him. How he doomed up,
IHtSllltlttt DS llIC NdltI w gave ii SIoul
of establishment at the sight. He didn' t
remain long in sight, however, but darted
down to bottom again, and back and
forth, up and down, until it got to be
anything but fun. My fingers we're raw
and smarting; my wrists were lame; my
knees, weakened by excitement, trembled
under me. However, held on manfully.
and finally got his head out of water
against the rail of the boat This was as
far as dared bring him in by the line.
Now the question arose. How were we
to get him into the boat? We had the re-
mains of landing net which our friends
had wrecked the day before in landing
their fish. Had we gatf the thing would
have been simple; but that useful nipple
ment was conspicuous by its absence.
However. l held his head ont as best |
could with my left hand and ran my right
down his back, hooking my fingers into
his gills from behind. Fred, in the mean
time, had reached down in front and
grasping him by the gills exclaimed,
Now, my boy, have him by the wills
kers; in with him and in he came.
When an ordinary fish is safely in the
boat about all the fun remaining is in
Boosting over it afterward; not so in this
case, however. Our sport had just begun.
The very first jump the fish made took
the center seat out of the boat, upset the
pail of bait and sent Fred sprawling on to
the bottom. We then did our best to hold
him down. We couldn't; it was a good
plan, but it did not work. The fish was
as slippery as an eel. Fred was making
frantic grabs, which the fish was skilfully
lodging, when brilliant idea struck me.
''Hold on to him. | cried, ''and | will
strike him on the head with a paddle"
and | brandished that murderous nipple
ment aloft. l brought it down with a
vigorous blow. l didn't touch the fish,
but hit Fred on the backs of both hands.
''You laundering idiotr' he yelled,
''what are you trying to do?' at the same
time executing a few fancy steps which
would have attracted universal attention
upon any stage.
Never mind a little thing like that,'' l
replied ''attend to business or we shall
see that fish going over the side''
''Not much danger of losing him.
growled Fred; che still has that hook in
his mouth and you could play tug boat
with that gear.
Well, we jumped on that fish, kicked
him, stabbed him with sheath knife,
and the blood flew over us and the boat.
Finally, blow on the head, dexterously
delivered by Fred, subdued him. We
were wrecks; so was the boat; but we
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