Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-02
RECORD BLACK BASS.
Fifteen and One-Quartef Founder
Captured In Florida.

Captured In Florida.
| From the American Field.
A Chicago angler, Mr.. NJ. P. Riley, has
| been in Florida for several weeks bait cast
| ing for the big-mouthed black bass, which
attain so great weight in the fresh water
| lakes and rivers of the peninsula state
| These waters have not been depleted to
| such an extent las yeti as the more north
| erly habitats Of the Micropterus salmoides,
and the expert angler can depend upon
having fine sport in Floridian waters at
the proper season. From a letter recently
written from Tallahassee by Mr.. Riley to a
Chicago friend. we are permitted to ap-
pend some account of the anglers expe-
riences:
Having beard Of the large black bass in
this part of the country, came down here
couple of weeks ago properly equipped to
get one of them, bringing live frogs for bait
from Chicago. l made my headquarters at
Mr.. E. n. Mabry'S plantation, on Lake
Jackson, about nine miles north of Talla-
hassee. l began fishing on January % and
fshed more less daily until February 2
with rather Indifferent success, though get
ting a few black bass and pickerel every
day. l discovered that this was not
the proper fishing season, the darkies who
fish for market not beginning to fish much
before March or April. L stuck to it,
though, casting frogs, minnows and the
spoon.
Saturday morning. February 2, they seem
ed to be taking hold little better, and at
about 10 o'clock am. l got wicked strike
in a large weed bed, off of deep water.
hooked my fish and soon saw l had
large contract on my hands. Mr.. Mabry
was padding the boat for me, and man
aged to back out into deep water, where
/ played the fish the reel for about
twenty minutes, finally landing him in the
beat without gait or net. On our return
to land he was weighed and registered a
fraction over eight pounds, being twenty
four and one-fourth inches long. He was
caught on a regular casting outfit with a
medium-siZed live frog for bait. l packed
this fish in ice and expressed him to my
place of business, So 9Th avenue, Chicago,
where it can be seen by calling there. l
think this is of the largest, If not the
largest, bg-mouthed black bass ever
caught and landed on light tackle, and I
have sent orders to have him properly
mounted This fish also weighed by
Mr.. T. B. Byrd, prominent merchant of
Tallahassee, several hours after being
caught and found to go over eight pounds.
Il am going down on the coast, near st.
Marks, for the balance of the week, to try
my hand at sea fishing on the Gulf of
Mexico, and will report my success later"
Mr.. Riley is an expert in the use of bait
casting rig, and can play big fish to
finish. but his trip in search of the big
mouths of Florida was his first experience.
probably, on the waters of that state, and
ne ola not nave the SOOQ reaCn
the haunts of the really big bass. His fish
is a fine specimen of it's species, and he
did well to boat it, without gaff or net, but
that same day Mr.. Roland Morrill,, a prom
inent fruit grower of Benton Harbor, Mich,
caught a much bigger bass in Florida. Mr..
and Mrs Morrill, spent several months in
the south this winter and on February
Mr.. Morrill, wrote from Jacksonville to his
friend, Mr.. w. w. Mcfarland the we'll
known sportsman of Chicago, some ac-
count of his sport In Florida, from which
We excerpt the following:
We have been having some fun down
the Kfssimmee river. We went down there
for fishing and shooting. Found the shoot
ing poor and fishing fine. In our first hour
we had three bass-1012 pounds, II pounds,
and 13 pounds-and six from to 10 pounds,
my wife getting a twelve FOUNDER for her
first bite. Last evening, just as we were
quitting to take the boat for home. l got
one that weighed 10 pounds 10 ounces and
the thought came to me that / wanted you
to see it. l really thought you would not
believe my story if you could not see the
fish.
Il want you to take care Of the fish and
get track of some taXidermist who can put
hira UP right, as l want him mounted
Ye fysshinge editor has had the pleasure
of scanning the noble proportions Of both
laboratory, where they had been sent to be
mounted as trophies Of the angle. After
the big Morrill, bass had been out of the
water six days it weighed 15A pounds, it's
length was 27as inches. girth measurement
at the center Of the dorsal fin 22A inches
extrere spread of mouth, measured inside
the jaws, GA inches; same outside the jaws
IA inches, size of eye Orifice, rs inches.
This black bass is the record bass at least,
for Chicago taxidermists and is a genu-
well preserved and they will make fine
mounted SDecmeQS