The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-03-31
LAKE MICHIGAN R C
uou the LIule Pan Fish Are Caught
In Large Numbers AZ Chit
Cages DOOr.

Fog. penetrating ana ehhii Nhoso
opaqueness is just beginning to be re-
lieyed BY a faint globe of red bare
ly d~isceruible as it comes above the
eastern horizon; buildings on the bank
looking ike shadows, and bridges NOV
ing like phautoms In response to shrill
whistles. such was the scene present
ed from the bow Of the tug E. E. Rice
as she started for a fishing trip in the
lake early one morning lately. The
rice is owned by Capt r, A. Charles
who commands her, aud by G. A.
Turner. In summer she does a good
business as a towboat, but in winter
she is devoted entirely to fishing pur-
poses and makes two trips a week. To
find a buoy, a point 10 miles out In the
lake, was the object Of the tug. II was
Easy enough 10 reach the breakwater,
as the ice was broken in almost a
straight line Il the breakwater, but
the course had to be steered northeast
by east from the lighthouse there.
This would be easy enough In ordinary
weather, but the recent cold wave had
frozen the ice near the shore 70 such
depth that the tug had to take the
channel made by other vessels and new
bearings had 10 be taken.
We're going ten miles an hour
said the captain, as the little vessel
churned her way through the heavy
lethargio waves. "rhe water deepens
of shore at the exact rate Of n
fathom 10 the mile. Better heaye the
lead, Mr.. Trattes."
The mate stood in the bow with 100
feet of line In HE hand and e n the
plummet Of the lead heaying forward
SC as to get the correct depth OF water
by counteractlng the speed Of the tug.
Twelve and one-hnlf fathoms,' he
shouted, as he pulled in the line.
"We'p almost there" said the cap
tain. ana IN a few moments an upright
stick about six feet out OF the water
struck the bow OF the tug. He had
steered the vessel exactly TO the re-
quired spot and through a fog 1t that.
A yawl was towing hstern the tug, In
which were three swedes. The line
was theirs and II was a line which
would have made a fisherman who
casts a fly for sport gasp with amaze
ment.
The line, which was fastened 20 a
buoy firmly anchored to the bottom.
stretched six miles 10 the south,
where It was attached 10 another buoy.
At intervals Of three feet, smaller lines.
each bearing hooks balted with min.
nows, sank toward the bottom. IN all
10000 minnows acted as lures TO the
perch.
Tho yswl was al one cast of, and In
a moment had pulled up to the buoy
and the W men in the bow began tc
haul In the big line and the first hool
brought up a FISH. The men in the boat
cheered and the tug blew three whis
ties in response. Ii is considered gooC
luck 20 have a fish on the FIRST hook
and the events Of the day proved tn,
superstition In that case a good one.
Away sped the tug northward look
ing for the buoy TO which the nets wer,
attached. k just six minutes the buoy
was reached, and the work OF the crew
began. The nets were loaded on the
bottom with lead end top were sup.
ported by corks. The duh lethsrgy oil
the sea had vanished. A strong breeze
from the northeast had sprung up, and
the little boat was dancing merrily
over the waves, which occasionally
broke in white, gltterlng spume over
the bow. The men put on their oil,
skins. and one big swede prepared to
grasp the buoy. The motion Of the
boat was uncertain, however, and he
missed the objecI sought by about six
inches.
A cry Of horror went up. as il was
impossible for a man clad Ia his heavy
garments to swim. As he came up the
first tins, however, a heavy wave
struck him and washed him alongside
the tug so he could grasp the bulwarks.
In a moment be was on deck
"Humph!" he exclaimed. pretty
cold that" and he went on hauling in
the net, as II nothing had happened.
But the rest OF the men were all soon
as wet as he. as the water poured from
the net and the sea dashed over them.
The nets were divided into sections 100
feet long, Each section was united
from the next placed in a big tub and
carried aft. whore the rest Of the crew
dlsentangled the fish from the mtshes.
Occasionally a trout would be found In
one Of the nets, but most Of the fish
were perch. They were genuine perch.
too brilliant in color and Arm Of nesh.
as much different from the fish caught
along the docks as a brook trout Is from
a minnow. When the four miles o. net
had been taken up Il was estimated
that Ia o n Of fish were on board III,
tug.
Then came the task OF setting IN,
new nets, which was m~onotonous n
the extreme. The sea by this time wa
high, and the little tug, going at a slow
rate Of speed. tossed ahou, so heavil,
that one Of the passengers was heart
/. to pray that she would soon sink. III,
yawl had bad a good days haul. too
and when Chicago was reached NOR,
than two tons Of fish were ready foI
the market.-Chiaago Chronicle.
iwperstt'r g. send More Troops.
auI.w Nf-.N aa Nr-s.