The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-12-20
A FISHING FICTION.
THE "MAelc Eye OF THE sAuLT
STE. MARIE INDIANS.

An old Galde's Explanation of the
indIan whitensh Hunters Method
of Getting His GlisteninE Catch
From tnder the Rapids.
1.-THE first time I fished in the Snult
Ste. Marie rapids" said well known
Lake Keuka sportsman, II landed in
an hour twenty-one brook trout that
weighed forty Ave pounds; SO was
ready and willing to believe anything
heard or read about the possibilities
of those waters or the astounding
things that men who fishcd in item
were able to do
consequently believed what they
told me about the marvellous feats the
Indian fishermen OF the Sault Ste.
Marie could perform in the way OF
netting whiteiish. Few who have tour
ed the great lakes have not heard OF
those same feats, witnessed them and,
of course, could do nothing but go
away believing that they were all they
seemed to be-
.Particularly Will they marvel. as
magic eye with which lie seems TO
look down through ten feet or more OF
foaming. rushing water ana see White
fish that to the white mans eye would
be invisible five inches beneath the
surface. 1t would have been strange
IL / had not marveled at It, having
witnessed more than once manifesto
tons of Its alleged power. That was
before talked with old Guide Garron.
The astounding feats of the Indinn
whitcfish METERS of the Sault Ste.
Marie that the guidebooks and the
hotel keepers and steamhoatmen insist
On telling tourists about are performed
by two Indians In canoe. One occu-
pies the stern and nanipulates the
paddle to keep the canoes head point
ed up stream. The Indian in the bow,
standing upright, uses IL pole TO ala IN
propell.ng the canoe or in keeping 1t
steady.
Lying ready to his hand is dip net
four feet In diameter. fastened to the
end of a pole perhaps fifteen feet long.
The fishing is done Mt the foot OF the
rapids. where the water boils and tum-
bles furiously. With his pole the In
dian In the bow keeps the boat moving
about In the rapids and gazes constant
Is into the water, which is often ten
feet or more deep.
"Suddenly the Indian in the bow will
seize the net handle with one hand,
never ccasing to manipulate the canoe
with his pole in the other nor for an
instant removing his staring gaze from
the water. The net Is not more than
In his hand before lie has plunged It
perhaps ten feet distant from the boat.
thrusting 1t ut the same instant to the
bottom. Then he gives it a peculiar
twist, draws 1t up and. snrrcndering
the care of the canoe for the moment
TO the Indian with the paddle, he
draws the net up. never without from
three to half dozen glistening white
fish In it. frequently weighing five
pounds each.
1.-THE wondering spectator, seeing
nothing but the boiling water. the sud
den start Of the Indian and his quick
and dexterous plunging and drawing
M OF the net with its invariable load
Of whitefish, can do nothing but &C
knowledge to himself the necromancy
of the Indians piscatorial art. know
that did. and for two seasons gave
myself away to the fascination of that
mysterious fishing. Then one day
maryeled at 1t greatly TO Guide Garron,
the shrewd and cunning old French
man who knows every rock and eddy
and whirlpool of the rapids and all the
wilcs and tricks that any other guide
knows and whole lot that no other
one does know. and Garron's little
black eyes twinkled.
".All- he chuckled. Eat mageecE
hye. He Won gr-r-rand homboag'
Then he explained in his voluble
and picturesque patois the apparent
mystery OF the Indian whitefish fisher
mans magic eye. whitetish are natu-
raj dcnlzens of the still. silent Yates
OF the great lakes. To get from Lake
Huron to Lake Superior these fish
must fight their way up the fierce and
stubborn Sault Ste. Marie rapids. In
doing this they travel by easy stages.
They can brave the rapids but short
distance mt time. when, almost eS-
hausted they drop into the Shelter OF
the friendly rocks that pile the bottom
OF the rapids.
"Huddled sometimes by the score be-
hind these rocks. getting wind. as u
were. to overcome another stage of