The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28
Odd Fish Stories
Told by IndidnianS

1.-The professor of biology in one of the
Indianapolis high schools should pay more
attention to ichthyology If certain athletic
students of the school are members of his
class" said a local fisherman. This sum-
mer I met several of the young men who
played on the football and basketball
teams last season, and don't believe they
could tell a gar from an alligator or
shark. or pickerel from an eel or water
moccasin spent several weeks at Crooked
lake in Steuben county, catching bass,
bluegills. croppies and pickerel. The last
named is an excellent fish for the table
when properly served. James lake Is near
Crooked lake and is a popular resort for
visitors. Among those spending the sum-
mer at James lake was a party OF high
school students, who rowed boats and
fished just enough to keep their muscles
firm for the athletic training that begins
when school opens. Their favorite method
of fishing was to troll. One day young
Fullback CHS friends may recognize him
under that name) caught slender fish that
had a long narrow head and sharp teeth.
Neither Fullback, Center, Leftend nor
others of the party had ever seen anything
like ii. Fullback pulled the fish into the
boat and as il touched the bottom the lure
fell out of its mouth, leaving the fish free
to make trouble IL il wished-and IL did.
"'What is it?' said Center. as the thing
Topped toward him with open jaws.
Looks sharky,' said Leftend. as 1t made
another attempt to leap over the gunwale
into its native element.
Here take 1t awayr exclaimed Center,
as it struck his leg in one of its flops.
Kill it, shouted Fullback Selling an
oar and throwing his legs over a seat as the
thing moved his way.
If it comes near me again I go over
board, said .Leftend. standing up in the
bow of the boat and stripping his coat.
L would, too, said Center, If could
SWIM
THE THINGS LAST LEAP.
Then, probably fearing he might be left
alone with the thing, Center threw cold
water on the swimming proposition by sug-
costing there might be bigger fish with more
wicked looking jaws in the lake. Just then
the thing almost leaped into Centers lap.
Center gave a Shrek, jumped toward the
bow of the boat and seized the rope that
was used to tie the craft, with the evident
determination to seek safety in the water.
Hold on! shouted Fullback, you'll up
set us If you jump overheard and hang on
to that rope
Center changed his mind. probably real
izing that If the boat upset or sank his
chances of reaching shore would be slim.
'Fullback, in the meantime, picked fup
an oar again, and hit the thing on the head
s,&<.
the lake and the incident ended.
"A few days later the party of student
athletes visited Crooked lake. / had just
caught six or seven-pound pickerel when
/ met the visitors.
What do you call that?' said Fullback,
pointing towards the fish.
"a pickerel.' / replied, holding it up.
els it good to eat?' Fullback again
asked.
Excellent. If properly cooked
"Fullback turned toward his companions.
with a sheepish look. We caught a big
one the other day. he said moment later.
but threw it back into the water, not
knowing what it was
How long was IT.? asked.
About three and one-half feet was
Fullback's estimate.
1T was near five,' said Leftend.
Eight, you mean interjected Center.
Afterwards. when I learned what took
place in the boat, was not surprised al
the variance of the estimates. Center. who
probably was the worst frightened Of the
students, evidently permitted his magma
ton to increase the size of the fish every
time it Topped near him. Fullback, who
killed the pickerel and was the most cool.
headed, probably guessed the length of the
fish correctly
A TENDERFOOTs MISTAKE.
THAT reminds me of young chap me-
| in Michigan, on the northern shore of Lake
Huron, a few days ago." said Mr.. Fon.
| tinalis. You know / have fondness fol
| trout fishing, and will travel many mile:
| to find a good stream. While at the
| Shows heard that good-sized trout could
| be caught in large brook that emptiet
into the lake near Detour, so / bargaineC
| with a sailboat owner to take me there
| We went prepared to camp few days. Or
| arriving at the place we met young mar
| who said he was fishing for bass, usine
worms as bait. His luck had not beer
| good, he said.
TOO many grass pike he replied to
query.
"'Grass pike!'' repeated, in a question
| ing tone.
| Yes. There is one 1 just took off m,
hook
Il looked and saw trout about thirteer
inches long. 1t was beauty.
| Heavens, man! / exclaimed. That,
| the finest fish that swims. It's a brool
trout-a magnificent specimen of the sal
| velinus fontinalis'
| Well it's spotted something like tn
grass pike / used to catch in the rivers O
/ Illinois, and L thought it was one of them
l knew the spots were different. but
thought that was due to the water and food
1 don't like grass pike, and threw abou
/ southern Oklahoma. He expresses tn
more than one is an albno