The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

New City. in Rockland county, n. T., there
Is small trout pond. the fish In which
have excited the wonder of every one who
has seen them, on account of thoir extra
ordinary tameness and unusual size. The
trout is naturally one OF the most timid
OF fish. but So tame are the trout OF this
little pond that one of them takes worms
from persons hand, and its latest accom-
plishment IL to lie still while some one
tickles it under the belly.
The size of the fish alone would be
enough to excite interest. The largest
and weighs more than five and one'half
pounds. Two OF the others are more
than sixteen inches long, and, while their
weight Is not known exactly, III IL prop
able that it Is more than four pounds
apiece. The pond in which they are kept
was built nine years ago by the Ederiing
brothers, the owners of the little shoe
factory, and was designed TO supply water
for the facscry. There Is small brook
running through the place. the water OF
which Is as clear as crystal. Ihe pond Is
about twenty-five feet wide and nifty feet
long, and its greatest depth Is hardly i've
feet One day short time after the pond
had been made one of the Ederling child
rem caught q young trout in neighbor-
ing brook. 1t was too small TO eat, ana
was thrown into the pond. Later two
more trout were added, and then for
time the trio were almost forgotten.
When the fish grew large enough to
attract notice they were so timid that IL
was difficult to catch q glimpse OF them
at all. The approach of visitor to the
pond caused thom to disappear under the
stones and the bank OF the pond, and it
would be long time before their where
abouts could be discovered. The children
got into the habit of throwing In worms
in the hope of drawing them from their
hiding place, and they did this so much
that the trout finally began to become
tame. Last year, to the great delight, or
the children, the trout would come up
and cautiously take worm thrown 10
them, providing 1t was we'll of shore.
This year they make no bones OF coming
In boldly for the proffered food, and Its
proximity TO the bank does not lessen In
the slightest its attractiveness. A short
time ago some one thought OF trying III
the trout would eat from the hand. and
held worm down In the water. To his
great surprise one Of tho trout tho lar
gest came up cautiously. and, after
short time spent in getting up his cour-
age, made dash for the worm and bore
1t away triumphantly. This has been
done quite frequently since then. Ihe
trout no longer dashes for the worms but
comes up gently, as horse would Tor
lump Of sugar. Neither Is the fish now
in haste to get away and, indeed, has
degenerated to an Oliver Twist, refusing
TO be satisfied until another worm is
offered. The other two large fish are not
so tame. They will come up for worms
with great avidity, but they have not
been induced yet to take them from the
hand. A person need only walk around
the pond and the fish will follow him,
waiting to be fed.
Ihe latest ard geatest accomplishment
of the tomest trout is 10 come up TO a
little low platform built out into the
pond, on which the children stand. and,
to allow them to touch and even tickle 1t
gently on the belly. 1t seems TO take
real delight in this treatment and Will
often come up again ana again 10 90
petted thus. The children have various
names for the trout 1t does not respond
TO their calls, but the slightest advance
of one of the children toward the bank
will bring the fish quickly TO them.
Tho most devoted friend of the trout is
old Mr.. Ederling. who Is more than 80
years old. Mr.. Ederling is fish lover
He has caught good many trout In his
day. and 1t Is sometimes hard for him to
restrain from catching this one. Had the
fish not gained place In his affections by
their tameness they would in all proba-
bility have by this time been caught ana
eaten. Mr.. Ederling spends hours throw
ing In worms to them, and Watching
them play. A seat has been arranged for
him near the bank, and his appearance is
always signal for the fsh to approach.
Two goldfish were put into the pond
while ago, but they have sunk into inslR-
niicance. Tho trout apparently realize
that they are possible rivals, and annoy
them upon their slightest attempts 10
thrust themselves forward.
The weight of tho big fellow was dis
cussed in the village for long time, and
in view of its tameness IL was decided to
catch and weigh the trout. The weigh
ing was set down for the first clear day.
The weather satisfying all conditions last
Wednesday the persons interested gathered
at the pond to watch the experiment OF
catching fish without a houk. The day
before Mr.. Ederling had spent most OF
his time i'm his chair feeding the fish on
worms and they got q repast such as 10 has
seldom been their privilege TO enjoy.
Consequently when tho trout came up TO
be caught it was unusually sleek anu cor.
pulent 1t came up expecting ms usuai
the tickling process, but instead became
entanpIed In the nesbes OF net which
soon brought IL to land. bag had been
prenared for its temporary quarters while
on land and into this IL was put The
fish was found TO weigh triile more than
So pounds, ana to measure exactly
twonty -one inches. Last yenr III measured
TWENTY and n quarter Inches, so that Its
growth. considering It's age, more than
nine years, was considerable
Tbe weighing. while it has settled the
disputed question of the weight OF "A FISH,
has unfortunately cooled its ardor in APP
preaching people to be tickled. Since 1t
was caught so uncereinoniously IL has
been very wary OF this performance. IL
will take worms eagerly enough but it no
Longer consents to be touched.
Besides tho three large trout thero are
prohably almost "a hundred small ones,
but they as yet keep out OF sight, and are