The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-01

tory Of angling In California up TO that
time was the taking by Frank v.
Rider, OF New York, secretary Of the
Tuna Club. year ago. of black sea
bass Weighing s27 pounds-a fish that
was caught with rod and reel and a 81
thread linen line. Almost the entire
population turned out to meet the an
ger. and the catch gave Mr.. Rider
fame, and made him the holder of the
club black sea bass medal and cup.
Next to the tuna, in the estimation Of
various takers of big fish with rods,
the black sea bass is considered one of
the greatest of game fishes. At the
time 1t was thought impossible to beat
this catch, but this year the honor
passes from New York 10 Philadelphia.
I. S. Manning. one Of the executive
committee Of the Tuna Club, has de-
feated Mr. Rider by taking S72
FOUNDER.
Mr.. Manning began fishing this year
ON May /. and ended the last Of Sep
TENDER. on his last trip for black bass
he went to favorite spot about two
miles south OF Avalon bay. Here the
water is 200 or 800 feet deep within al
most casting distance Of the wall of
rock. The latter has q clrcling beard
of keip which rises from the great
depths, Its long leaves swinging in the
current In tidal measure. In this fish,
ing one must have the anchor ready to
throw of, there being no time to haul
1t in after the fish strikes, so terrific
is the rush. The tackle Mr. Manning
used was the regulation Tuna Club out
fit, a light rod with reel that would
hold 1000 feet OF 2l-strand line. The
bait was piece of albICore, tooth
some dainty to the king Of the bass.
Patience is sometimes required in this
bass fishing. Half an hour passed be-
fore the line began to twltch and culver
and run out in the way peculiar to the
biting OF the big fish, which nibbles like
small fry. Ten or twelve. feet had
slipped away before he struck. Then
the angler cried "cast on to the boat
man, and the vicious kissing Of line
through the water told the story. The
rush was SO violent that the moment
the big brake was put on the reel the
heavy boat wAlrled around as on
pivot They went rushing away, stern
first, after one Of the widest Of the sea
horses. %S
The fish made its first-run directly
GU ito sea, taking 800 feet 9f line before
1t could be stopped. The Mexican boat
man was backing water all the time,
necessary move, as without 1t the bass
would have taken all the line; when the
boat is forced in the same direction as
the fish the angler can usually stop the
fish when 1t has taken 900 feet of line,
after which it Will tow the boat. While
1t was perfectly calm in the lee of the
island, beyond the point 1t was blowing
hard and white caps covered the sur
face; 1t was in this direction that the
fish rushed. Mr.. Manning fought the
fish hard, endeavoring to stop 1t, reel
ing in when an opportunity, offered, bu:
invariably losing the line gained when
the fish surged down and made fine
burst Of speed. In short time 1t had
towed the boat into the rough water,
and there being no way Of turning, the
sea began to break over the stern. Now
the fish cIrcled about the boat, ever
surglng down, and at the end Of an
hour and quarter Mr.. Manning found
himself three miles from shore, with not
ten feet gained In fact, the fish had
gained 200 feet and 500 feet Of the line
was out. It was evident as wave
swept over the boat that should the
fish pull harder than usual on the line
at a time the rail was near the water
the craft would fill.
Matters began to look serious, when
suddenly the fish turned shoreward, per
haps forced by the efforts Of the angler
and they moved toward the rocky sea-
lion rookery that forms the south end
OF the island. The fisherman did not
wish to lose the fish, as 1t was undoubt-
eddy large one. yet In such sea to
fight 1t to finish was suicidal, SO he
determined to try the effect Of some oil
which he mad in the boat. Some was
turned overheard by the boatman, and
the effect was marvellous; 1t spread
around the boat and at once produced
calm that augured well for the sue
cess OF gaining. 1t was a singular spec
tacIe-a sea OF white caps all about,
but in one small spot n low yawl boat
floating in water perfectly calm. Then
probably ror the first time fish was
taken In with the aid OF OIL The boat
man now took In his oars and devoted
himself to the oil can while Mr.. Man
ming began to tight the fish by what
is known as the pumping method, rs the
game was down perhaps several hun
drcd feet This consists Of Keeling I'M
Ill the tip Of the rod is near the surface.
then lifting until the rod is upright,
dropping 1t quickly to reel as 1t drops
to lift 1t again,
This presently began to have Its eff
feet, and In 20 minutes the big creature
was within 50 feet OF the boat and the
weary angler was disposed to raise a
cheer. Repeatedly 1t broke away, but
finally three and a half hours after the
strike and half mile off the sea-llon
rock the Ilsh was rcclcd 10 the surface,
and as It made a rush the Mexican
boatnan thrust his heavy tuna guit be-
meath II and gated It. The fab rolled
over. nearly throwing the man from tho