The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-01-31
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gers teeth to operate upon. The bait
was threaded lengthways with the
points of the hooks at the mouth, like
night line for fresh water cells. A
heavy pIummet was needed to prevent
dragging, and we tished ledger fashion.
Having set this principal line, we
got out our ordinary tackle for gen
eral fishing, and soon began to catch
hsh fast, which | attributed in part to
the sack having attracted them and
stimulated their feeding.
kept sharp lookout upon the
conger line, which was fastened to the
thwarts within reach. for there was
no necessity to hold it and pull up at
the first sign, as we intended any
worthy aspirant for the pig to gorge
the bait, and he would doubtless give
ample signs of his proceedings before
1t was time to pull in.
lighted my pipe aud confined nv
attention to the conger line, while
SIM and his boy went on with their
ordinary fishing. The sack had evil
IDENTIFY gathered many fish about the
place and excited their appetite, for
they bit well, and we had q good
show OF founders, plaice, whiting,
etc, and several of the wretched dog
hsh, which were summarily murdered.
VI cells there were plenty about, as
the boy caught one about ten pounds,
and the father one little smaller.
besides hooking a heavy fish which
broke away, and which he knew by the
feel to be conger.
My bait did not appear to be very
tempting to them, but was in hope
that when taken it would be by a
giant. My previous visitors, the
crabs, favored me several time again.
and forced me to raise the line. but
their movements were now familiar to
me, and excited no false expectations.
ABOUT three-quarters of an hour had
passed IN this manner. / was again
raising the line slowly in the hope of
bringing good crab to the surface.
when the bait was suddenly seized.
dragged dow nwards with violent
pull, and held for some moments at
the bottom and then carried straight
away from the boat.
That's him, sir!' yelled Sim
Give him time! Let him get it
down."
did so, and let him have about
half the length of the line before I
struck. 1t did not turn him one
whit, and then felt his weight and
power both were tremendous. No
shooting or darting as with the dog
fish, but a strong, steady, STRUGGLING
strain forwards; it was like man
Pr4ling against me, and the boat was
swept round into the line of tension
as though it were a handbook. As I
tired to haul in / could not gain n
yard of line; in fact, it was as much as
l could do to hold him, and I feared
every moment that hook or cord must
so. 1t could not last, and / lot ont
more line, not knowing what else to
do. Sim was much excited. "He's
conger, I'll lay crown, and a rattler
TOO! know his pull That's no
dog! cried he. OF course VIC might
have dragged in 1T all risks, but I
dared not do this, and dreaded n
break every moment, for the line was
as taut as bow-string when n
thought struck me.
Up with the anchor, Siml Quick.
quick that'll ease him a bit. said
No sooner said than done: Sim nj
the anchor, the boy at the sack. which
he cut free, and we were loose upou
the waves. Now began singular
and exciting contest. The boat was
fairly towed about in various dircc.
tions, while the struggle went on be-
tween myself and the monster. Tor
more than quarter Of an hour this
went on, without our CATCHING
glimpse Of him. As he frequently
bored furiously for the bottom. +
kept heavy strain on to prevent this.
for fear Of rocks or sunken wreckaoe.
and to avoid bis twisting himself
with the line, for either Of these con.
tingencies would have been fatal
The boat being loose was n great
advantage, as we were lugged about
hither and thiiher i'm n most extraor
binary way. Had it been fast + am
convinced there would have been
smash with my tackle. There M.
peored no probability Of firing him
out or drowning him -eel8 are not Co
be vauquiahod TINS and the sooner
] got him in the better.
The extent Of limo out made this q
lengthy task, but j shortened bv de
grees until had but q dozen Yards
ont; then for tho first time we saw the
great white coils beneath the water.