The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-02
THE MOST DELICIOUS FISH
KNOWN.

In delightful letter written from
Waynesville Capt Ashe discusses a ques-
ton upon which there will be diverse opin-
ions by fishermen and epicures 1t seems
that before this visit to Waynesvlle Capt
Ashe had an impression that mountain
trout were a myth. Having dined on
eighty odd-we beg pardon, having seen
eighty odd which his boys caught, and par
taken of fair portion-he no longer re-
CARDS them as myth but says certainly
they Justify their reputation, for they
are the most delicately favored of the
finny tribe. In that respect they surpass
any other fish l have eaten"
We are not going to take issue with
Capt. Ashe on a question upon which he
is more competent to speak, seeing that
he wrote Immediately after enjoying a
dinner of delicious mountain trout. Tween
ty years ago at Waynesville this scribe
first sat down to a dish of toothsome
mountain trout, and, like John Rid, "felt
to thank God for the room he had inside
OF him." But may not Capt. Ashes judg-
ment be somewhat biased by the good
taste of the trout that still fingered on
his palate as he wrote?
Henry Grady, a few years before his
at Morehead, and with party of friends
sat down to a supper of broiled Spanish
mackerel. He was as enthusiastic over the
Spanish mackerel as Capt Ashe now is
over mountain trout and declared that
nothing so succulent,'s so delicious, so pala-
table could be found on land or sea.
In support of his position, Mr.. Grady told
story, as well as it can now be re-
called, like this: When Howell Cobb was
Secretary of the Treasury he was called
to New York on business. He was dc.
tanned long after his usual hour for din
ing and went into Delmonicos very hun
cry As he took his seat, he took a five
dollar gold piece out of mis- pockets and,
handing it to the waiter, SAID Bring me
the best thing you have In the house"
without word the waiter retired. and
soon returned bearing waiter and silently
placed before Georgias great statesman
a dish en- which was a succulent hot broiled
Spanish mackerel with slices of lemon. He
tasted it and it went to the right spot"
He devoured it with zest, and ordered a
second dish When he had finished, he rose
freshly minted, in the hands of the waiter
said: "You are the wisest man in New
York because you know what is the best
thing in the world
The difference of opinion between Capt.
Ashe on the one hand and Henry Grady,
on the other, both accomplished journal
lists, is not offered here to revive the
traditional contest between Eastern and
Western North Carolina which ragged most
disastrously for many years over political
questions. If, however, there should
arise controversy between the West
and the East over the relative ex
cellence of the mountain trout and
the Spanish mackerel, the West has
scored first because it has secured
the good offices of Capt. Ashe, whose
people have always been down Casters"
He will be a tower of strength in sup
port of the mountain trout and will call
in Attorney General Gilmer, Judge Fer
guson, w. T. Crawford, w. T. Lee, and
host of others who were brought up on
mountain trout to confirm what he has
written. Per contra Messrs. James A. Bry-
an, Winfield Chadwick, John X. Morris,
Twill Arendell, Geo. N. Ives, and others,
backed by Rev. N. M. Jurney, will come
up strong in undertaking to prove that
Howell Cobb and Henry Grady were bet
ter Judges of the relative merits of fish
than Cant. Ashe or Bob Gilmer If the
controversy wakes warm, this writer offers
himself as competent arbitrator, but
gives notice that he will render no decis-
ion until all the evidence is IN, and that
M evidence will be considered until he has
been taken by the Westerners to
Waynesville to try the merits of
mountain trout and to Morehead by the
Fasteners to try the Spanish mackerel.
1t may take several trips and several
samples of both before an expert opinion
can be rendered, but if the partisans will
keep up the controversy and keep up the
supply of fish the self-suggested arbitra-
tor, if selected, will be in no hurry to
render his award.