Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-19
WHEELING FISHERMEN ON THF SOUTH
POTOMAC.

The South Branch of the Potomac is
now enlivened by the presence of the most
famous fishers of the Isaak Walton club.
This bright galaxy of othologic stars ar
rived here Sunday morning and are COM
fortably quartered with John Miller, who
perhaps has entertained more eminent
fishermen than any other man on the
shores of the Potomac river.
The party consists of John Sehellhase,
John Bremen, Louis Steenrod, Platof
Zane, II. H. Marsh. Keener Devries, and
James Maxwell. The party is chaperoned
by Coils. William H. Steele and Richard
Robertson. The idea of chaperonage is a
new one but it is so very popular and
far reaching that Boston young ladies al
ways have a chaperone along on their
bridal tours A curious experience oc-
Cured yesterday.
The whole party had gone across the
river, near THE Trough of the Kirken-
Gall Mountain and when returning it was
noticed that John Bremen had caught
more fish than all the others combined.
BY way of experiment he had baited with
marshmallows and gum drops and his
catch had been phenomenal. 1t was noted
however, that there was not Jack Bass
among the whole lot. They were all the
other kind. On the way home an inter-
esting discussion arose concerning the
proper sort of fish that should be used in
stocking exhausted streams. 1t was
agreed by all. that a hardy non-corrosive
kind of fish should be used in order to
resist the action of acid, garbage and sew
age that now effects nearly all streams
where fish reside. Maxwell seemed to think
that if fish could be propogated in a
tan vat and fed on diet of tripe and
limburger, that it wohld be the fish that
could be depended upon to thrive in our
waters under present conditions. 1t was
acknowledged that the fish caught in the
waters near crowded communities did not
taste like the good old fashioned fish,
I that had more oxygen and less garbage to
feed on. The good old fashioned fish was
sweet, juicy and delicious, but his
asphixiated descendent has taste that
reminds ore of cork insOles and en-
balmed beef all due TO the condition Of
the water-of course no one could blame
Schellhase for this. as he has always
been a sticl1ler for the best water that
the market affords.
Along this lire of discussion, Lew Steen-
rod suggested that If a good hardy acid
resisting fish was required, why not stock
the streams with dried herring, commonly
known as blind Robins Then Platof
Zane said. Whats the matter with cod
fish balls?" Then STEELE suggested that the
proper fish for the streams at present
would be canned sardines. Dick Robertson
seemed to favor this idea, but amended it
by declaring in favor of canned salmon
Both stelle and Robertson pointed out the
advantages of stocking the streams with
canned fish-acid will not affect them
neither will garbage or sewage, nor can
they be dynamited. Thus when gangs of
Pittsburgers come to Wheeling creek on
Sundays with key of bourbon and a
satchel fun of dynamite-they would be
fooled.
Another favorable feature of this plan
is that il viii do away with the incon-
venience of getting bait and one need not
even be bothered with a fishing rOd-he
could fish with pitch fork
Ii would simplify the whole business
On Sunday a fellow could take a stroll
out the creek with few era ckars. lemon
or so. a pitch fork and a can opener and
in a short while have a fine meal-no
scraping of scales. no frying and no bones
to pick. When the supply runs out, stock
up again. Il is probable that this mater
will be called TO the attention Of George
Bowers, for approval
The catch of bass this year viii be re-
markable. Keener Devries has negotiated
for the entire crop and has about COM
pleted arrangements with Marsh for a
refrigerator car and reduced freight rates
The members of the Fort Henry club will
have bass suppers and dinners this fall
and winter that would delight the palates
Of kings.
1 have been receiving this over the long
distance telephone from Glebe. and the
girl out there says she has TO go home
now and milk the cows. BARON JONES.