Gilpin observer., 1900-05-10
STATESMEN FISHERS.
SENATORS WHO ARE SKILLED
ANGLERS.
Senator Frye Wears a Flannel Shirt
In tho Maine woods-Quay Goes After
Big Game--Amusins Anecdotes and
Incidents.

men In washington, writes cOrre-
spondent, who are ardent disciples Of
Izaak Walton. The opportunities for
good fishing within reasonable dis
tance OF the national capital are abun-
dant. Two hours run in parlor car
brings one to the home of the vicious,
courageous. small-mouth black bass of
the Shenandoah and the Potomac.
The big Four" among the congress
sional fishermen are Senator Frye OF
Maine, the president pro tempore of
the senate; Senator Davis of Minneso-
ta; Senator Gear of Iowa, and Senator
Quay of Pennsylvania. What they
don't know about fishing is not worth
learning, and what they have not told
about fishing is not worth hearing.
Senator Frye is probably the most
consistent sportsman Of the quartet.
He goes into camp in the Maine woods
every summer, wears a flannel shirt,
eats bacon and is glad to get it, and
leads the life of woodsman. OF
course, he comes back to Washington
all the better for it. He can cast fly
with the best of them. He often slips
up the river during the sessions of
congress and takes a try for some of
the dainty, small-mouth bass before
mentioned. Presiding over the senate
of the United States he is the soul Of
dignity. Seated in the stern of big
batteau, rod in hand, an old straw hat
on his head and contentment on his
face. he looks another man, and then
he doubtless is happiest.
Senator Cushman X. Davis of Min
nesota is an ardent angler. Let any
body suggest fishing trip and he will
drop his cares as schoolboy drops his
books to go a-swimming. Treaties
and conventions are forgotten by the
honored head of the committee on for-
eign relations, for the time, and he Is
all impatience to wet line. Senator
when fishing. He has had great ex-
perience in the lakes of Minnesota,
which abound in game fish. Whether
it is the agile trout that rises to the
fly, or the big pickerel that takes the
bait on troll, it is all one to him, and
every famous fishing water in his state
abounds with legends of his skill.
Senator Quay of Pennsylvania is ad
dicted to deep-sea fishing. The habit
of angling contracted in the trout
streams of Pennsylvania, has grown
upon him to such an extent that ordi-
nary sport does not satisfy his craving
any longer. He needs must travel all
the way to Florida and spend days
seeking the fierce tarpon. He has
charming little hunting lodge on the
Florida coast, and whenever he finds
the cares of craftsmanship or politics
Expressing him he takes train and is
away for week or two Of sport. 1t is
a fearful and wonderful sight to see
the doughty senator from the Key
stone state standing braced in the boat.
battling with an immense tarpon, and
when he has landed his victim he
wears the look of a conqueror at the
close of battle. When times are too
busy to go to Florida he does not dis
dain to take whirl with the bass of
the country. and is ready any time for
an outing.
Senator Gear Of Iowa is known to
every guide and boatman of the upper
Potomac. In fact. there is one famous
spot in the river called Gears Hole,
after the Iowan. 1t is near an exclu-
sive rod and gun club which the SEN
ator visits. One day he was being
rowed up the river and had tried all
the fishing holes with Indifferent sue
cess. He directed the guide to row
him to certain place which he spied,
and after sounding the water. observ-
ing the lay, of the land, the character
Of the bottom and the drift of the cur
rent. said there was good fishing there.
The old guide pooh-poohed the idea.
No one had ever thought of fishing
there. But the senator insisted on try
ing. and within an hour or two had
caught thirty magnificent bass. So
they called it Gears Hole. and it is
fished every day in the season when
there are guests at the club house.
Speaker Henderson of the house of
representatives is a fisherman-after
fashion. The spirit Is willing, but the
flesh Is weak. He has the instinct. but
his wooden leg interferes so he sits on
the veranda OF the club house all day,
reading and smoking and taking in the
glorious ozone of the mountains, chat
ting with the old guides and boatmen.
until "the boys" as he calls the 9TH
ers OF the party. come back in the
evening with their strings, and then he
is as much interested as anyone.
OF the hose committee on approprla-
tions. Is another rain bar'l' fisher
man, as the guides call the statesmen
who stick to the clubhouse verandas
on hot days and let others blister in
the sun. Turing the willy bass. He is
very fond of fishing excursion, and