Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-03-31
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Incandescev s,..s I'D to Lure
HungT b. Il. ne Hooks.

The past 49, otcold weather has
not confined ily pleasure giving TO
the skaters, flor the ice fishermen
have been out in force. and some
very good sport has been enjoyed by
them, says the New York Sun. The
latest trick in ice fishing is the use of
the electric light 1t was the prince
OF Monaco who first realized the pos
sibilities of an electric light as lure
for fish, and he made the first deep
sea trap with light in it, and reaped
o richest harvest.
A battery can be made at cost of
about $4, but it is easier to buy one
for about the same money. The out
fit will consist of two jars, contained
in hardwood box, with two clips to
which to attach the wires of the two
poles; three-candlepower lamp and
wide-mouthed, shallow glass jar.
Take the lamp and twist about it's
center some light wire, with loops
sticking out in al directions, and
place it in the jar, hanging it mid
way between top and bottom by
passing the current wires through
the cork and wedging them tight.
The loops of wire 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 it sink and hold IL 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 OMIT
will attract every fish within 200
yards. About four feet to the right
and left of the lamp hole other holes
are cut in the ice for fishing. In
these are placed the baited hooks on
old time tips-ups. The light attracts
the fish, and the bait and the hunger
of the fish do the rest. The lamp
via cost about so cents for eight
hours. Care should be taken not to
cut the fishing holes too close to-
gether so as to weaken the ice and
make it dangerous. The best way is
to cut them in semicircle at the
back of the lamp bole and approach
them from the far side.
AS rule the tackle may be OBJ
tanned on the ground. If it is taken
along braided linen &c" line is the
proper one, with number of large
sproat hooks on good and new gimp
smells; gut is almost useless, as it is
liable to tear from the rubbing it re-
ceives against the edge of the ice
when it is drawn up, and also because
it is liable to get very brittle from
cold. 1t is as well 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 speciality 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 a 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 fish to certain
extent, and they do not appear to
see as quickly as in warmer weather.
AS soon as they see the bait they go
for it with ten times the voracity.
This is the reason why in several
states fishing through the ice has
been forbidden by law. The fish bite
with such eagerness that people are
afraid the supply of fish for the sum-
mer would be seriously depleted by
the winter sport, and especially the
pike pickerel and other game fish.
1t is cold work, and good fire on
the bank is essential, while warm
clothing and very thick, heavy shoes
should be worn. OF course, skating
can be INDUCED in at the same time,
but if the ice fishing is good the fish
erman 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 trench two or three
feet long, one foot wide and nearly
through the ice; then bore tiny
hole in the middle 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 will
not freeze during the day. It can be
enlarged to any size as the fish are
caught. The modern fisherman is
sparinR of the time-honored bottle;
he has discovered that coffee or
chocolate are infinitely more warmth
giving and sustaining. at the same