The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-12
THE WALL-EYED PIKE.
IFrom the New york SUM-


George Armour of Narrowsburg caught
a wal1-eyed pike in the Delaware river
last week that tipped the scales at So
pounds and measured 81 inches in length.
The fish was landed with an S-ounce rod.
Armour sent the fish to a New York
friend, who mounted it upon a piece OF
polished mahogany and placed 1t on eX-
hibition. Its size and beauty attracted
much attention
The, w.all-eye is not a pike at all, al;
though 1t IS somewhat of the shape and
has the markings of the pike. Freshly
fish Imaginable of a duh silver and opal
coloring. It is somewhat lighter in hue
than any other freshwater fish 1t is
somewhat more retiring in disposition
than most freshwater fish, seeking the
eddies where the waters lie deep and still
It does not chase its prey with the cour-
age of the trout or the ferocity of the
black bass. but it is q game fish of no
mean abilities. and viii put up a good
fight when struck. It will not thrive ex-
cept in clean running water With a rock
bottom and its flesh is fine and delicate
as food.
Just when the first wal-eye came to
the Delaware and decided to stay and
rear its family IS not known Attention
named Barnes who lived in Binghamton.
Mr.. Barnes OF BinghamtOn was at various
times observed at various points along
the river, padding his own canoe and
generally minding his own business. At
nightfaH he would come ashore at some
unfrequented spot and sit on the bank
until picked up by an Erie freight train.
He made it all right with the train crews
who dined on the wall eyes fried. baked
ana brOlled- THESE men spend much oil
their time while off duty with a rod or
gun, but none of them had ever taken a
Wau-eye. AS matter OF tact they dla
When interviewed on the subject MI. Barnes
q BlnS hamton talked about the Weather
he and his tactics remained solid Inys-
terry until the gentleman in due time
saw MN there mildly wondered what he
was dredging for in the eddy, and, wholly
the most likely spots for bass Toward
evening he brought his boat ashore His
ty-five waIl-eyes. averaging five pounds
apiece, and packed side by side on the
across. To put it mildly the natives were
astonished. Old fishermen like c. H. Muir
ray and Jake Gebhardt, who could entice
pass from the river when every body else
failed, had not even suspected the pres
ence of the fish in these waters.
a Weeh or Two later the residents OF
NarrOWSburg sauntered out of doors after
ticent Barnes out upon the broad eddy.
They returned to their homes in haste,
lately set forth. The ordinary pursuits
and Industries of Narrows burg were at a
standSt1I that day and every craft that
would float was in commission. Barnes,
still padding his own canoe, remained
coy. The Mario wSburgerS could only get
near enough to see him occasionally draw
a flashing fish from the water. Barnes
was hard pressed, but that day his catch
numbered thirty-fve waII-eyes, ranging
IN weight from three to nine pounds
NarrOwsburg surrounded him at once on
les Barnes merely gave another discourse
next time that the gentleman was dis
covered on the smooth waters of the eddy
he was observed at long range. Telescopes
and field glasses came unto play and
scouts were stationed at all gpoints from
the covered bridge to the head of the
island. The local sportsmen have since
been shares of the piscatorial secrets of
Barnes.
TO troll successfully for wau-eyes one
must have the line sunk to the bottom of
the deepest pools. A spoon is attached to
a few feet from the end of the line, and
three feet above the spoon a live Iamprey
about six inches in length is hooked as
it is for still bass fishing. To be sports
man like one should use light rod and
equally light, though strong, tackle 1t is
no trouble at all to know when the fish
takes hold, and as Mr.. Mulvaney puts it,
there's a fOight bechune."
The other day G. B. Lawton caught
wall-eye in the Delaware at CallicOon
that weighed liz pounds and more than
covered d yard stick. So far as is known
this is the record fish in these waters for
.. year A month ago two drummers had
three hours to wait for a train at CALI
coon. They borrowed some tackle from
Charley ThOrWelle and returned in time
for their train with two fish that weighed
together a5Out thirteen pounds.