The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-06
CLEVELAND on FISHING.
Good Bait, Good Tackle and Plenty
of Patience Necessary.

of Patience Necessary.
In a late issue of the Independent
appears an article by Grover Cleveland
on "A Word to Fishermen" In it the
writer says
Those of US who fish in fair, well
bred ard reasonable way, for the pur-
pose of recreation and as a means of
increasing the table pleasures of
ourselves or our friends, may well re-
greet the apparently unalterable decree
which gives to all those who fish, I'M
der the spur of any motive-good, bad
or indifferent-the name of fishermen.
We certainly have nothing in common
with those who fish for a livelihood,
unless it be a desire to- catch fish. We
have In point of fact, no closer rela-
tionship than this with the murderous-
ly inclined, whose only motive in fish
ing is to make large catches, and whose
sole pleasure in the pursuit is the graf
ification of a greedy propensity. New
ertheless we, and those with whom we
have so little sympathy, are by sort
of unavoidable law of gravitation
classed together in the same fraternity,
and called fishermen. Occasionally
weak attempts have been made to
classify the best of this fraternity un-
der the name of anglers, or some title
of that kind, but such efforts have al
ways failed. Even Izaak Walton could
not change the current of human
thought by calling his immortal book
The Compleat Angler" So it seems,
however much those who fish may diff
fer in social standing, i'll disposition
and character in motive and ambition,
and even in mode of operation. all
must abide, to the end of the chapter,
in the contemplation of the outside
world. within the brotherhood called
fishermen" Happily, however, this
grouping of incongruous elements I'M
der a common name does not prevent
those of us who properly appreciate
the Importance of upholding the re-
spectability of decent fishing from COM
ing to an agreement concerning certain
causes of congratulation and certain
rules of conduct.
At this season, when the activities
of general fishing usually begin, 1t is
fitting that a word should be spoken
that may not only rebound to our conf
fort and satisfaction, but may guard
us against temptations that easily be-
set even the best of fishermen.
We who claim to represent the high
est fishing aspirations are sometimes
inclined to complain on days when the
fish refuse to bite. There can be no
worse exhibition than this of an entire
misconception of wise arrangement
for our benefit We should always re-
member that we have about us on
every side thousands OF those who claim
membership in the fishing fraternity,
because, in a way, they love to fish
when the fish bite-and only then.
These are contented only when capture
is constant, and their only conception
of the pleasures of fishing rests upon
uninterrupted slaughter. II we reflect
for a moment upon the consequences of
turning an army of fishermen like
these loose upoE fish that would bite
every day and every hour, we shall see
how nicely the vicissitudes of fishing
have been adjusted. and how precisely
and usefully the fatal attack of dis
couraging bad luck selects it's victims.
II on days when we catch few or no
FISH we feel symptoms of disappoint-
ment. these should Immediately give
way to satisfaction when we remember
how many spurious and discouraged
fishermen are spending their time in
hammocks or under trees or on golf
fields instead Of with fishing outfits,
solely on account OF just such unfay-
Orable days We have no assurance
that II fish could be easily taken az all
times the fishing waters within our
reach would rot be depopulated, a
horrible thing 20 contemplate. Let n
not be said that such considerations as
These SAVIOR OF Observation-Disclosures and
seihfhnesF on our part, Ne are only
recognizing the doctrine 81 the sur
flyhl ~ The ntfeef AZ applied % fisher
men, and claiming that these "htfeef
should have the best chaNce.
Hhai hps been said naturally lesds