The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-11-25
VALUE 0F COMMON FISH
They Are the Best Of Food
When We'll Cooked.
AS TO LINES AND HOOKS.
Yellow Perch and Bull-heads-Ihey
Come in Where They Are Most
Needed-The Despised Sucker
Take the Boys Fishing Often as
Possible.

POSSIBLE.
7 wish to say a few words concern
ing the great value and usefulness OF
what are usually termed the common
varieties" of fish. These include the
yellow perch, rock bass, oulihead,
sucker, p:ckerel and the like. These
fish though they do not command the
attention Of writers and hsh-cultur-
lists that trout, salmon, black bass,
white fish, and shad have, still hold
a very important place IN the nsn-
supply Of the country, and 1urnlsn
pleasure and food for many thou-
sands of people. The class Of fish above
referred to do not require the care ana
attention to make them plentiful tnat
IS necessary with the finer or game
varieties. Artificial propagation is
not required, and about the only thing
really needed to keep a plentiful sup.
oily in the waters to which they are
adapted, is to protect them while
they are in their spaWning-beds, and
fish for them only by angling by hand
with hook and line. In this way you
get the greatest amount OF actual en-
joymeat in the capture OF the fish,
and who is there that does not relish
a mess of fish caught by himself, bet
ter than those purchased, or procured.
in any other way? Another point con-
cerning these common fish, is that as
rule hey are easily caught and
requires no especially fine tackle toz
take them, though the most success
full fishermen are careful in the ar
rangement Of their hooks and lines;
and also keep their hook properly
sharpened, and well-baited. A com-'
mon cane pole, such as can be pur-z
chased for small amount will be:
found equally as serviceable as a high-::
priced split bamboo, jointed rod: These
fish also inhabit large rivers, lakes
and bays which are accessible to the
millions. They are also found in the
canals to which thousands resort ins
summer for the capture Of a mess OF
fish. In such waters as these, the
iner grades of fish cannot 1--we and.
thrive. Therefore the ordinary bull
head, with his great powers OF en-:
durance, is a welcome and valuable in.:
habitant of this class Of waters. The
yellow perch with its white, faky:
flesh, when properly cooked, Is the:
equal of any common fish in the coun-:
try. The bull-head is also most ex-:
cellent fish, and I have made many g.
good meal on the usually underrated.
sucker and mullet 4 great many.
harsh things are said against the pick.
erel, but it Is a good fish, and a sutta-
BILE inhabitant for the kind Of water in
which it belongs. It is not suitable:
companion for the trout nor is there q
suficiency Of food for them In trout
waters, but there is plenty in our.
large lakes, rivers and bays, and many:
days sport have I had pickerel fish,:
ing. As table-fsh, they are not, In
my opinion, equal to the yellow perch
or bullhead out when properly PEE.
pared are very palatable. While ley;
do not possess the game qualities OF,
the muscalonge still in some waters
have found them to have consider
able eight" in them, and one OF eight
or ten pounds weight, aforls both
sport and an exercise OF skill to ia1d.
Who has not seen row Of bare-foot-
ed urchins sitting on bridge or the
bank of a stream, angling for suckers?
And what a happy expression they
bear on their faces when they trudge
home with a string of them long:
enough to drag on the ground! Many
a great man, and angler as well, has
taken his first lessons in fishing rom
catching the slow-going fish that gains
his subsistence by sucking the nutci-
ment from the stones on the bottom
of the stream. The value Of our COM
mon fresh-water varieties is very
great. They come in where they are
most needed, and with our extensive
watered area, no one need be denied
the privilege Of fishing, or cultiVating
a love for this harmless and healthful
pastime. When the head Of the family
decides to take the little ones out fish
ing, and they are all gathered in the
boat, each one furnished with a rod,
no salmon fisherman with his rod
bending under the strain Of a twenty
pound salmon, enjoys with a keener
delight the fun than the children, as
the perch and rockbass come Topping
in over the side Of the boat.-A.