The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1899-06-16
A TRUE FISH Story.

~ suVe SVll SJVuus
PAscAGouLA, Miss, June s. ls99
Editor DemocratStar.
In the early morning OF Friday.
June I'd, ii merry party of ladies and
gentlemen left here on the steam
launch SwaNfor a days outing and
hshing on Horn Island.
The party consisted Of the genial
protector Of the excursion Mr.. A. F.
Thomasson, cashier ofSthe State Bank
of Scranton, Mr.. 8. Watlasll, Misses
Lizzy, Bertha, Dickinson and Belle
Waddell, Mrs. and Miss Slaughter, all
from Union City. Tennessee. and your
correspondent Nautilus, with Com
modOre Frentz at the wheel. .Chiet En-
glneer Meade at the throttle and Rear
Admiral Brandon at the fiery furnace
OF the graceful Swan. A dozen per
sons in all, fully equipped with all the
necessary tackle, including two ko-
dakS, and literally supplied with SOL
ids and liquids for fine days sport.
The outward trip in a cool morning
breeze, but slightly agitatlng the EN-.
crald green waters Of the bay, was
most delightful, and lasted IA little
over an hour.
On our arrival at the castcrm0st
point of the island, we were welcomed
by delegation OF sharks, the leader
OF which was about six feet long, in
forming us that mackerel were rather
scarce'that morning on account Of low
tides. that he had had no breakfast
yet and was very hungry. Thereupon
bare arms and dainty feet which had
been dangling carelessly overheard in
the water were quickly withdrawn.
AS we landed on the sandy beach
some dusky fishermen were hauling in
a large drag net, presenting a very cx.
citing spectacle. Besides lots of small
fry and quite a number of young
sharks 3 to 4 feet long, they landed an
immense houndcring whopper with a
horrid head, a thick trunk and big
rubberlikc flaps dotted with white
spots, measuring about five feet from
tip to tip, and weighing probably not
less than POO pounds. 1t had a long
tail just like a buggy whip, and look
ed fully as dangerous as the much
dreaded octopus. The darkies called
it butterfly fish, but that is much
too nice name for such an ugly mon.
stcr, resembling gigantic bat or
vampire more than butterfly
The story OF Jonah and the whale
has brought all fish stories, sacred or
profane, into discredit, yet there is
more truth in most OF them than Bob
lngersOll may have ever dreamed OF
in his philosophy. And Of all the fish
stories recorded in the bible the mira.
culouS draft of fishes SOON after the
resurrection is the most remarkable.
On that occasion the sorely disap-
pointed and then amazed hshermep
landed zone hundred and fifty and
three great fishes besides innumerable
small fry. 1t is not stated of what
kind those great fishes, were, but very
likely those also were nothing but
sharks and other monsters OF the
deep; yet in this strange number
those astOnished fishermen at once
saw new revelation and a greater
promise. Translated into their yer.
nacular 1t meant "Beni H'Allchine''
or sons OF God.
Their frst miraculous draft of fisheS
had been SO great that their nets
broke and their boats got swamped
so they could not. count any OF the
great fishes. There it was: "Follow
me and l will make you fishers ol
men," and they abandoned their nets
and followed Christ, dreaming OF high
honors and fat offices to be bestowed
upon them In the new kingdom abou,
to be established. But the cruciflxior
had shattered all such hopes and con
founded their faith, and now the,
we're at their old trade again "a-ash
ing" Again they had toiled all nigh,
and caught nothing until In the earl,
dawn hungry stranger on the shore
OF the Sea Of Gallilee tells them II
cast out their net once more on the
right side Of the ship. They do 80
and this time the net did not break
and Of great fishes there were zone
hundred and flfty and three" Al
oncs they recognize the risen Christ
and compfchended the object lesson
and the greater promise hidden in
that number which appears to bG
this: Believe in the resurrection and
I've shall have power to transform hu