The sun., 1900-06-18
MORTIMER GETS HIS FIRST FISH
Exciting Time in jamaica Bay when He
Caught 1.-THE Proceeds Of q sugar Deal.

Excitins Time in jamaica Bay when He
Cauxht 1.-THE Proceeds Of a sugar Deal.
Mortimer had made q strike in Wall Street
He caught Sugar on the right side and put care
fully away In theinside pocket Of his vaistcoat
certified check for 5000. Then like many
men Of the emotional temperament he began
thinking Of some way TO spend his money 80
that he could get the greatest possible amount
OF enjoyment out of II. He looked over the
amusement columns In his newspaper. but
there was no attraction which appealed TO his
taste. There was a punching match on. but
he was not OF a sporting disposition His ven-
turss at the racetrack had only resulted In his
discontinue. and he decided not To give any
of his money TO the bookmakers. His eye
skimming the type caught an item TO the effect
that weakfsh were running in Jamaica Bay.
Like hundreds Of other city-bred men he
had never caught fish. and the idea occurred
to him that fishing would be novel experience.
With Mortimer thinking was always associated
| with action. and he started out to find fishing
tackle store. Stroling up Broadway he saw
a window filled with fishing rods Behind the
| counter was an afable clerk. who laid upon the
glass case rods all tho way from 81 To s25. Reels
| Of nickel, rubber and German silver greeted
Mortimer with click and balance. or course.
the best was none too good for man with 5000
in his pocket, and when Mortimer left the store
he carried a sp,it-bamboo rod valued az s20
a double multiplyin ing real. worth SIS: silk line.
costing 81 a fybook. filed with imitation
insects a waterproof coat, an air cushion
90 sit on. a light. cork fore and-aft hat. a suit
of khaki hunting clothes. a dozen artificial
lines Including lures and tin mnnows. an
assortment OF hooks and leaders, a landing
net and a gar-hook. In fact, Mortimer spent
SEQ and luHged his bundles cheerfully up 70 his
boarding house in Harlem in anticipation OF
great day sport on the morrow.
At about ~ o'clock the next day Mortimer
arrived A. Canarsie and secured the services
OF Skidmore. one Of the oldest fishermen in
Jamaica Bay. az guide.
Here" said Mortimer. handing the guide q
ive-dollar note, i want you 70 take me- where
] can catch Ash | want one big enough 10
make frying pan smell nice, because am going
to have II cooked for my supper. You take
me where the fish are. and II get one in the
boat you get another fve-dollar note have
never caught fish, and want to know how
1t feels when he pulls Can YOU do it'-
We'll can't swear to 1t, sir" said Slddnore
-theres only two Uncertain things In the world
death and Ash bite But III do my best
| caught ten tfree-r0unders on the ffulln' tide
YESTERDAY. Get In.
Mortimer stepped from the foat into the
stern Of the Whitehall boat Willie and in ten
| minutes Canarsie was only a shadow on the
| horizon The cool breeze swept in from the
sea and famed Mortimers checks The green
| meadows glidrd by like oases In watery waste
Odors Of salt and seaweed greeted the expanded
| nostrils of the amateur, and a sense Of uuck-
| ened vitality and of freedom stirred his pulses
One mile below Bergen Beach the guide
| dropped his mushroom anchor overheard
T,,+an nft.t taots n nrhA xAptp p,ttan Il,
Willie lay gently bresstin9 The tide which was
| lust beginning TO ebb Skdmore drew his
| baitbox, trailing astern, up to the side Of the
| boat and sprinkled handful of shrimp upon
| the water Then he adjusted Mortimer. rod
which was a six-ounce split bamboo wonder
| ing all the time what his customer was soinn TO
do with the whip lash" "a he called H. Tyng
| on a large weakfsh hook and batting with three
| shrimp, Skidmore dropped the line into the
| water and the hook aoated away on the tide
| to the gentle clicking OF Mortimers reel The
| latter adjusted himself more easily on his air
cushion, took q firm grip on the butt Of his rod
| and waited
An hour went by, but there wa. no sign OF
animation ON the line Skidmore WAS never
| so liberal with his chum He wanted TO gel
| the other s. which Mortimer had promised him