Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-11-01
DANGEROUS FISHES,
THEY ARE NOT ALL CONFINED TO
THE SEAS THAT ARE SALTY.

fhe Alligator Gar II Ope Fresh vs.
ter Species That Is Feared In the
South-A MysteriOus Monster Thai
Inhabits = Michigan Lake.
So far as any danger from the game
is concerned, fresh water fishing has
always been looked upon as about az
safe as any sport in the world, and the
fresh water fish has gone on record az
harmless and nonresistant. But there
are Instances now and then when the
fish turns the tables. The inhabitants
the neighborhood Of Lake George, an
inland water about three miles lon.,,
are almost superstitiously afraid Of q
certain fish that inhabits that lake. No
one knows what sort Of fish 1t is, and
opinion locally is divided as to whether
it is a giant muskellunge or a strr-
geon.
Spearing parties had now and t1Nen
reported seeing a very large fish with
out being able to strike it, but no Q
gave credence to the tales until C0e
night several years ago. when a party
of sportsmen from Chicago went on the
lake spearing in charge Of an old resi-
len named Armstrong.
Armstrong was the only m that re-
turned to tell the story. He said tha
party was spearing in shallow wa ter
when they saw an enormous fish tlAt
resembled an overgrown pickerel. 7 VIC
of the Chicago men were standing In
the bow. and at first supposed the ;tsh
to be a log. Then one saw his mistake
and struck with all his might. The fish
gave a dart that made the boat jung
as though a steam engine were pull ny
it. If the man had let 90 of the speaIr
all would have been well, but he hung
on. and the fish gave a mighty flop t.
right angles with the boat. The man
still held to the spear, with the result
that the boat capsized. and the MEL
found themselves standing in mud and
water up to their waists.
The light went out when the boat Up
set, and. the night being dark and
cloudy. not one of the party had :-ny
idea of the direction to be pursued in
reaching shore. The shallow water oc
cupies a large part of the lake, p
they could wander in any direction
without being able to tell whether or
not they were nearing shore. Arm
strong said afterward that nothing
could equal the awfulness of the expe-
rience that followed. They made tleir
way in one direction after another snd
wandered round and round. going half
way to their knees in mud at every
step.
To make matters worse a cold,
steady, drizzling rain began to fall
They were soon numb to the marrow.
Then one of the sportsmen dropped
without q word. and nc n went 10 his
help. Little by little the three that re-
manned were separated. Arms rons
says he himself became unconscious
after a tine and remembers 10Th
ing that happened until he was rc USED
by feeling solid ground beneath bis
feet and finding that the water was
more shallow than 1t had been. He
kept on and fell upon the shore. Then
on hands and knees he crawled to-
camp and gave the alarm. Search was
at once made for his companions, ara
their bodies were recovered. Since that
time the big fish with a scar on his
back has twice or thrice been seen by
spearing parties, but they have passed
1t by.
There is one species Of fish in the
south that is feared only little less
than it's salt water contemporary the
shark. This is the alligator gar. II
grows to enormous size and has a bill
hard and bony and much broader than
the bin of the common gar Of northern
waters. One who goes out upon tie
lakes of Louisiana and Arkansas viii
see them jumping and splashing like
enormous trout Their usua! food cua-
sists of fish. and they not only male.
endless trouble for those who go liSh~
ing with minnows, but have beer
known TO round up and tear to pieces
bass which the sportsman has hooked.
Bathing in the lakes is considered daE~
gerOnS.
"a LNSIo q ! III II So 4 4 q
boat on Il lake near Helena. Ark. lot
ting his feet hang over the stern. wilen
a gar grabbed him by one leg. The
man hung to the boat until rescl>
but his leg was horribly gashed. :! ne
fish have been known to attack in like
I'M negroes who went swimming
In the Mississippi below New Orleans.
One spring the writer was visiting q
rice plantation on the Flower coast" OF
the Mississippi when IN old negress
came wailing to the house and said her
five-year-old boy was dead. He bad
been playing at the edge of a bayou
and was lying on the bank extending
his arms into the water wheA D ss.af
came with a rush and, grabbing The
youngster by the arm, pulled him 'nre
the water. A young negro with a shot
gun was standing near watching f0r