Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-07-26
HOPEFUL FISHERMEN

Chollymike. of Brooklyn, was invited to
Coney Island By friend on recent Satur-
day night to see q remarkable sight.
n VIII show you something said Cholly-
mikes friend. that sou never saw before.
ChollyInike was consumed with natural
curiosity to know something Of the phenoul-
enon about to be disclosed, but managed
to maintain discreet silence. He and his
friend boarded a street car and went to
Coney Island, arriving there about eight
o'clock. The friend led the way to the old
Iron pier, where be deposited 50 cents WITH
man at the entrance, gaining admission
for both After walking what seemed 70 be
at least d quarter OF a mile out 20 sea, Cholly-
mike observed spectral figures in the dis
lance, leaning over the rails OF the pier.
"Are those men seasieks" ventured Chol-
lymike.
"No," replied bis friend, this is a pier,
not a sailboat. Bur these are the men l
brought you down to see. These are Usher
men. They fish here every Saturday night,
250 OF them
What do they catch? ?" asked Chollymike.
''Cold. mostly replied the friend. We
are now approaching them, and | want you
to observe them closely.
with men. Some were logged out in fish
ing clothes, Others in ordinary street clothes.
Some had poles, reels and elaborate tackle,
others plain drop lines. So thick were the
lines going out from the pier that man
falling overheard into them would have
been as safe as il he had fallen in a net.
Every once in awhile man would haul
in his line. crack open fresh clam and
rebait his nook with it, What little con-
yersation there was, was carried ON in under
tones.
Cant we fish, toog" inquired Cholly
mike.
1T is unnecessary" replied bis friend. IF
You must FISH, take your shoestrings out OF
your shoes, tie them together and drop them
overheard"
But | could never catch anything that
way" replied Chollymike.
Precisely" said his friend. but no one
here ever catches anything.
chat man over there appears to be
asleep said Chollymike, pointing to the
| PROSTATE figure of a man alongside the
| rail
| eyes, he is one of theold timers. said his
! friend. you viii see that he has long gray
/ beard 1t is said that he was only boy
| when he first came here. He knows more
about the tides and the run OF the fish
than any of these others. He has never
caught a fish yet, but he hopes to, some
night lie used to stand by his line all
night, but now that he is old, he has in
vented clever q ice by which he can
fish and sleep at tl.e same time. lie uses a
! drop line, which is fastened to the rail
alongside of him. Attached to it is a bell
II fish bites, the bell rings. Seey Il
your heart weak
sob, no, but why do you ask
81 am about to precipitate some excite
ment. / will sneak over and ring the bell
| Observe the result
Chollymike's friend crept over to the
dangling line and gave it yank. The
gray beard jumped as though some one had
stuck a pin in him. The 249 other fisher
men deserted their posts and rushed over
to watch him haul in his line. Excitement
was written ON every face. The old mar
hauled and hauled until his line came out
Of the water Attached to one hook was Q
piece Of seaweed. A foot above the water il
fell off and back with a splash.
The old man gave vent to burst Of pro
family that almost shook the pier.
"A blackfsh, by the great blankety
4 blank" he beloved.
"A ling, shouted another, 81 saw !
clearly"
cit was whiting, l tell you. This is tn,
very time for them to run" suggested I
third
Il don't think it was fish at ALL ven
tured Chollymike mildly. ut seemed tt
me to be chunk of seaweed."
Two hundred and fifty pairs of eye
glanced pityingly on Chollymike. Tn,
old man managed to choke back the words
that crowded to his lips, and Chollymike'
friend. hauling him aside, Kissed in his ear
'Shut up. Let them talk. This is wha
| brought you here to see. Say something
quick to square yourself"
"Well, it might have been a weakfsh,
said ChollymiSe, lamely.
"Whoever heard of weakfish biting
still line2" said the ling man and the whit
ing man together.
Chollymike observed the rest of the ex
element from distance 1t took some
time to restore things to their norma
condition on the pier. But the old mar
finally went back to sleep and the other.
to their lines. Chollymike suggested that
they ring the bell again. His friend said
the pier would certainly crumble if that
bell rang twice in "a hours.
Let US 90 instead and talk to this young
man over here" he said. "He is the only
fisherman VINO comes here to fish every
Saturday night in high collar and a derby
hat. His speciality is telling about the
fish that were caught the week before
| He encourages newcomers to come again
He is the. corresponding secretary of the
Old Iron Pier Fishing club His name is
that of well and favorably known brand
of mineral water, and he is as effefvescent
as his name. We viii approach him.
The corresponding secretary had FIVE drop
lines out to the east He held one in each
hand, one between his teeth and one under
each foot
bad night" he said, in friendly fashion,
as Chollymike and his friend approached.
Tides bad It'll turn at 1910, and then
the ling and whiting viii surely run Last
Saturday night"
He's off y SVhisnprad ('bolIv,n ;l-,fs f,.,a,,J