The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-11-05
BIG FISH CAPTURED.
Largest Catch of Season Of califOr-
mia Coast Is Made.
Monster weighs $500 Pounds and
owes Ti;s Destruction to Two
Women - Landed After
Three-Hour Fight.


A three-hours' fight and the capture
Of a monster sunfsh weighing 1850
pounds was the strenuous experience OF
two women and boatman at Catalina
island OF the California coast the other
week. The fishermen of the coast have
had many notable catches and have cap
tured many things strange and startling
In the sea, but this monster, resembling
q dismanuled elephant minus the bones.
Is easily the biggest catch of the season.
This particular one that was landed
owes his destruction really to two
women. Mrs. A. w. Barrett, of Los An
geles. and Mrs. Nellie Hall, Of Rochester
N. Y. They were out in the Pacific
ocean with Skipper George Farnsworth
In launch, after Jewish. While gazing
over the calm surface OF the channel
about a mile from shore the ladies hap
pened to look behind them, and away
of In the distance, about half-mile
astern. saw the great black mass ON the
surface of the sea that shone distinctly
In the sun. -r
1t was whale-like In size and appear
ance, and the boatman put his launch
about to investigate the apparent dere-
lict. As the boat drew near, the oceu-
pants saw that II was monster sunfish
that was lolllng on the surface, warming
itself in the morning sun. From Its
size. the party knew that to venture too
close might invite a fight and wreck
| of the boat, but after consultation the
ladies decided that the big Shiny lump OF
| auivering flesh must be shared If posi-
Bile. Accordingly. Skipper Farnsworth
selected his heaviest gaffhook and
turned on full steam ahead for charge
on the Ash mountain.
| When close enough, Farnswortf
swung the gaff with all his force and the
l'hook went down deep into the quiverine
flesh of the sleeping fish.
| 1t was a rude awakening, and wher
the fish felt the sharp pain. II dashed ou'
in every direction with great fury in thu
effort TO free itself The hook had taker
a arm hold and could not be pulled out
and when the monster realized this, Il
renewed its fierce efforts to escape.
This twisting and turning and thrash
Ing continued for over an hour until re
lief came in the person OF Boatmai
Elms. who had seen the fight from
distance and instantly realized tina
something was doing He also sunk hi
big gaff into the struggling sea elephant
and by taking turns the two men Sc
curely held II until It fought itself int
complete exhaustion the struggle goinl
on for one hour and IS minutes afte
Elms arrived, or for about three hour
after Farnsworth first gated it.
1t was almost as large as prize Gov
at country fair. and it attracted tel
times as much attention. The entir
population Of Avalon turred out to Sc
the big thing, which had been draw
up to the platform by means of heav,
block and tackle. There it remained 70
a day, ard II quivered with life for man,
hours after being taken out Of tn
water.
No scales on the island were larg
enough to weigh it, but the old fisher
men estimated that 1t would weigh be
tween 1900 and 1 900 pounds, which cas-
: lily eclipses all sunfish records on tn
: Pacific coast as far as known.