The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-04
HIS GARDEN AN EEL TRAP.
Being Farmer Won Swinke's Method Of
Catching Fish without Fishing.

EAST ORRINoToN, Mo-, Oct. S.-There are
several ways Of catching cells as well a. Of
skinning them after they are caught. Tho
latest method Of doing both has been in
troduced by Fred Won Swinke. German,
who came to Orrington last spring and
began to grow peas for market upon some
swamp lands which he had purchased near
Segunkedunk stream.
The farmer vowed that the rich lands
near the sluggish water were capable Of
yielding more green peas to the acre than
ten times the area on tho hills. Tho seed
came up in due time and showed an incli-
nation to grow, but before the plants were
six inches tall every one was eaten of close
to the soil by some creature which visited
the farm by night.
Every pea vine in sight was spoiled. but
cabbages, turnips and other vegetables
were allowed to grow undisturbed. The
crop was planted over many times without
securing any harvest worth the trouble
expended.
In August, after Won swinke had lost his
seventh crop and after all kinds Of traps
had failed to give relief, he kept watch
among his pea vines for two nights. He
was rewarded by seeing large number Of
fat cells climb up the low bank and invade
his pea preserve, gorging themselves upon
the foliage and then escaping back to the
stream.
Instead Of feeling downcast over this
discovery, Won Swinke seemed to be highly
elated. He went about tho village rubbing
his hands and telling what q wonderful
country America was to furnish cells enough
to supply a large city in every garden that
edged upon stream Of fresh water. Then
he bought tn ousand feet Of narrow boards
and placed them end to end around his
pea patch until they met and made franc
for the crop. Having done this he dug .
hole near his cabin, sunk . half hogshead
until It's chimes were level with tho soil
and filed it with pure water. Then, by
opening his fence and putting q line Of
boards on each side OF the walk leading
from his garden he had included the tub Of
water within the Gordon.
He sat up until nearly daybreak the
following night, then he went out with q
kerosene can aud smeared the top surface
of all the boards with the oil. After this
he blew out his lantern and went to bed.
The first thing he did when he got up at
nearly noon. was to pour about ten quarts
of salt and q bushel of hardwood ashes
into the tub of water. No sooner had this
been done than the water was alive with
squirming mass Of cells. which tied them
selves In knots. turned somersaults and
handsprings, and made tho water boil
with their convOlutions.
Soon they were dead and then the faymsr
bailed out the water and began TO skin his
fish. There were nearly three bushels OF
them, all Of good size and very fat.
Once a week since then Won Swinke has
repeated the experiment and has made
good catches eyery time, He says thar
cells will sooner run through fire then cross
u board which has been daubed With oil.
Having come 10 his garden to feed on peas
early IN the morning they had found every
aud naturally followed the path until they
had come 10 the tub Of water. Into which
they had plunged In faneisd security.
The salf and ashes not only killed the cells.
but removed the slime from tho fab, 90
the farmer had no trouble In skinninS ths
each.