The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-10-27
QUEST OF THE OPAH
Fish Like a BrocadS of Silver and Lie
lac Caught Once In Eight Years.

Ever hear of the astronomer who
spent sixteen years trying to observe
a total eclipse Of the SUM-" asked the
companion Of the fisherman. Nor
Well, 1t was something like this
believe the place to which the unfortu-
nate man went was the Isle of France.
He had made the most careful prepa-
ration and was bould up in his work.
Finally the hour came. The day was
perfectly clear and all was in readi-
ness for the eclipse; but just as the
moment of totality was approaching
a cloud appeared and concealed the
sun. The astronomer was in despair.
He knew he could not afford to repeat
the visit if he returned home, so he de-
cided to remain on the spot for eight
years or until a total eclipse occurred
again. | say eight with resvry3-
ton; | am not an astronomer, and it
may have been eighteen years. Well.
again the eventful hour finally APP
preached. Not cloud was in the sky
and all nature seemed smiling; but
just as the great act was about to
occur a sudden squall came up and
the heavens were cluuded. The man
who had waited eight years gathered
up his instruments and returned to his
home to find that the government for
some reason had seized what little
property he had left
That is a pathetic tale" said the
fisherman, making a long cast with
shining anchovy, but it is nothing to
my efforts to take an opah. An opah
you must know, is one of the most
beautiful OF all fishes. rare and rad
liant creature; hence its Greek name
ldmprC6. first saw it in England,
and | spent several weeks trying to
take one along the Falmouth coast.
but never even heard OF an Opah, and
the fishermen told ME that one was
taken only about once in eight years.
Mark the resemblance to the pitiful
tale Of the astronomer and. lifting
his rod the fisherman hooked a chan
mel bass. The gamy fish made rush
straight away, heading for Lisbon as
nearly as could be judeed. then, stop
ped by the leather brake. it came in
like a fox doubling on It's own scent.
stopped and, plunging down. took the
fisherman unawares and broke the
line
a next heard of the opah in Hay"
continued the angler. as he eanaod on
fresh hook, land here l was told that
one was caught about once in en-
years, yet l went fishing in every boat
l could find. | was travelling round
the world, and one day when | strOlled
into the FISH market in san Francisco,
will you believe NE? there. swing ng
by its tail. abaze with color, was a
gigantic Opah. the fish of my dreams,
nearly four feet long and almost as
high. 1t was a sunbulsJ, rainbow,
and the fish dealer said that it was
the first one that had been taken in
eight years-note the period Some
one has described the FISH as "a rich
brocade OF silver and lilac rosy on the
belly; everywhere with silyery spots;
head and back with ulramarine tiHts;
jaws and fins vermilnon. The fish
was caught in Monterey Bay, and as
was more determined ,han ever to take
an opah, went to Monterey few
days later. Here | fshed in small
boats. trOlled in the picturesque la
teen-rigged crafts of the Italians-in-
deed in the very boat that had caught
this lampros of the Greeks. but | new
er sew even the scarlet fin Of the opah
"F.uslly. aue day In Chinatown, in
San Francisco, l saw lantern almost
identical with the Opah. and as it hung
over fish Stall | asked the Chinamar
if he had heard of the fish. AS | de
scribed it his face lighted up and hC
informed me that his brother heal
cat EN- at little fishing village no
far away. Well, the next day | dis
covered the village and the brother
who said he 'catchee heap big fish. al
lee sdmee lopah leight years ago
catchee bout eviy leight years.
had struck it." continued the angler
casting far into the ripple of the st
Johns; they had caught an opah eigh
years ago. consequently one was due
SO made a contract to go fishing will
them.
81 caught all the fishes of the SCI
from rock bass to octopus, though tn
latter is not strictly fish; but Their
was no lack of excitement when
spiderlike creature with legs or arm
twelve feet across came writing VI
and attempted to embrace you with
tentacle. | was beginning to be dis
I HOuldStu Nutu SOCh III LullV NGlAlAN
We had gone to the usual grounds an
after fishing some time an Italian la
teen-rigged boat came alongside, AM
knowing the captain, | joined him t.
change the luck, the boat anchoring
cables length from the junk. l wa
putting at my pipe, listening to tn
men. when my line was jerked iron
nv hands and, catching in a turl
about my leg, was almost pulled over
board.
"You have never hooked whale
OF course not. Then you know moth
ing about It. but for a moment
thought l had. There was n
holding it. 1t simply tore the lin
through my fingers. | had plenty o
, line-a stout one. Up came the ifs
again. circling around the boat with
whish and a Kissing of the line, an
. out of the water, like a knife of vel
million. shot fin-the fin | had see
on the opah. Apparently the ifs
caught sight of the boat, as it sounde
again. making the heavy lateen quive
as | tried to hold it; then it came u
again. towing the boat around an
as Jose cast off the anchor rushe
, away with us.
, 81 will not bore you with details;
is enough to say that half a mile be
low l brought my fish alongside, hay
ing worn it out. though exhausted my
self. Jose gated it, and by the aid G
ropes it was lifted aboard-a magnif
cent creature, a living rainbow, NOR
brilliant in tint and color than those
had seen. we'll repaying me for m
long quest. If there is another ifs
in the sea OF its size that can make
better fight l should like to see it
vet | suspect that my opah, the kin
of the herrings, is nothing more tina
n mimi Of tho commandment Least