The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-26
Chat Of tie Capital
Washington Gossip, PoItIcal All Other
wise, for the ReaisrJ of tsse diobs.
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WASHINGTON, May 24-(Special. "A
Baltimore paper has recently printed a
story which will be interesting to fisher
men all over the country. 1t appears
that Joseph R. Stonebraker has just re-
turned from fishing trip at Boca
Grande, in Florida waters. Mr.. Stone
braker makes these trips every spring,
and formerly, when Rev Maltbie d. Bah
cock was pastor of Brown Memorial
church, of Baltimore, that clergyman was
sometimes his companion and guest.
Baltimore has had all sorts of cham
pions in sports and Mr.. Stonebraker is
the citY's pride as fisherman. He has
been high-score man for several years
in Florida waters. This season he eclipsed
all previous records. He was five weeks
away from his home city. during five days
Of which time the Florida weather was
tco rough for fishing. He got to work on
April l6 and finished on May IL. Follow
ing is a list Of his catch and that of
ether experts this season.
Mr.. Stonebraker caught on rod and
reel thirty-fOur tarpOns that made a
total weight of 3.479 pounds; nine
kingf1sh, 1!5 pounds (this, is moth
Jewish, AS pounds; thirty-three group
ers, 226 pounds, and eleven channel bass,
1877 pounds: Total weight of all. 4,522
pounds, Mr.. Livermore, of Providence.
New York % tarpOns; Mr.. Peck, of Prov
I9e4ce, 10 X; l. p tarpons; Mr.. Holliway,
o. Of louisville louisville Ky 70 tarpGns; Mr.. John
Mrs. Jones, of Lexington KY, tarpons
The Baltmorean had lots of sport that
delights the heart Of the rodsman Two
experts made wager with him of $2 each
that they would, on a certain day, catch
more fish than he would. One of these
caught two tarponSl and the other got
The I,,-
Stonebraker to The man who manipulated
his eighteen-fo0t boat The two sides
having made a draw Of it by catching the
same number of fish there was nothing
for the boatman. The man was wide
awake however, Hessaw the two bettors
of the morning equipped to go out
for some night fishing and advised Mr.
Stonebraker of the fact. The Baltimore
man quickly donned his angling clothes
and his boat was soon on the waters
lie caught five tarpons with five strokes,
making his total eight. The other two
got but one, making their total four; and
the boatman got the money
The tackle used by Mr.. Stonebraker
was a twenty-two-ounce rod. with a hook
about five inches long. The hooks are
handmade or the model of the ''old
Virginies'' used by striped bass fisher
men in Maryland waters, though much
larger. They are known as 1870 hooks
The reel is big one and carries 400 feet
Of line. The fishing IS Gone in water
about forty-eight feet deep. four
ounce lead is usedas a siulier. 4 choice
slice of rnullet fish is used as bait
At times the fishermen are not only
playing the big tarpon, but they are
forced to play sharks which are busiiy
eating the hooked tarpCn. Ore tarDon
that Mr.. Stonebraker landed consisted of
little more than a tarpon head, sharks
having cut away the body. The rods are
expensive. MIR. Storebraker landed TWEEN
ty-six fish with ere rod, and this is
record
Tarpon fishing is not a cheap sport
The Earl of Warwick with a party of
three guests spent three weeks on the
fishing waters and caught an average of
about ten fish to each man. The yachts
expenses for this trip were estimated at
more than $4,000. The Earl of Warwick
is said to be an expert salmon fisherman.
He said that Salmon fishing was poor
sport compared tc taking tarpons. He
and his guests were elated over their
Florida experiences.
There were also present yachts owned
by Pittsburgers and New Workers.
Dr. Babcock <Whoz usually accompanied
Mr. Stonebraker. on these fishing trips.
is now pastor of Brick Church, New York
He heard of the great sport his fishing
partner was Hd iflSf anu WIO(C AAiii q
letter which would appeal to any angler.
IT is as folloWs:
MY Dear Brotheri can see it ALL I
can smell the wind and hear the water
and feel the snaod for tarpon slime. Ny
first silver king is on the wall of my new
study. with my rod just below it, eXcit-
ing the admiration of every true man.
| have been trout@fishing several times
since have been in New York. I caught
fourteen pounds the last time within an
hour. I hope as 7 get little Older to
Join a fisherman's club here which gives
you black bass, sea trout. .speckled trout
and handbook salmon, within an hour and
fifteen minutes of the city. 1 am in a
tennis club which is within fifteen min
utes of my house, and I go out once a
week for a good perspir-sweat. l am
working hard. but keeping well. About
the 1st of June we expect to go to the
seashore. Affectionately.
M D. Babcock
1t was DR. Babcock of whom it was
said that while fishing one day he held
a bottle of refreshTnent in the water to
cool and let it slip through his fingers.
and as the two saw it disappear the
doctor broke the silence with: Speak,
brother, you are a layman.
j. S. Van Antwerp