Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-06-17
THE WILD ANGLERS.
ANIMAL FISHERS THAT ARE QUICK.
SURE. WARY AND SAY.

the kfnen.her. the Mink. the Wa
ter snake and the Swapping rur-
tic-Hcw They Land Thefr Primes.
Any one who can suppress for
awhile his eagerness with the rod on
a trout stream and summon patience to
lie i'm wait and watch the ways OF
beasts and Birds said one who had
evidently been able TO do SO. will dis.
cover that he is not the only fisher In
those waters. Chief among the other
fishers are the heron. the kingtisher,
the mink. the water snake and the
swapping turtle.
AN angler passing down i'm n brook
intent on his rod will rarely see any OF
these wild fishers at their work, for
they are all wary and shy, perhaps
with the exception OF the water snake.
No angler has ever fished between the
elder skirted banks of any trout stream
without discovering one or more of
these reptiles-harmless except as to
their woeful appetite for trout-twisted
around some overhanglng branch.
watching for prey.
''One day while fishing i'm Sullivan
county brook lay down I'm the shade
of n maple 20 eat my iunch and smoke
pipe. While thus in guictudc saw a
blue heron drop down on the edge OF
the brook only rod or two away. Aft
or few minutes OF statuesquc watch
ing the long legged bird darted it's
head down into the water. withdrew it
with large trout in its bill and flew
away.
Not more than FIVE minutes after
the heron had disappeared mink
came swimming up the brooS. In "A
pool nearly within my reach the mink
dived. a moment later II appeared
with a good half pound trout I'm its
mouth
This expert fisher had scarcely gone
Its way when harsh voiced kingfisher
aliShted on a dead limb overhanging
the brook twenty yards from whore
lay. The bird was not long on the limb
before down il went i'm the water and
came up with trout. was trying to
figure out what the probable drain on
the trout population of the country
might be from the inroads OF these
Wild maraudcrS when water snake
came gliding up the stream carrying a
trout I'm its mouth that was big enough
TO talk about. Then thought e was
time for me TO get 10 fishing again be-
fore these expert aud persistent wild
fishers had robbed me OF my chance
for sport.
"HeronS. like swapping turtles. select
the largest trout for their prey. They
usually fish ut the foot OF some deep
pool. Poised on one long. slender leg.
the heron. as immovable as IL IL were
carved from stone. waits patiently the
passing OF some luSty trout from the
rapid water below into the pool.
"Thc wait is seldom long one. sud
denly the long neck shoots out like an
arrow. and the great bill Is buried FOR
an instant i'm the water. The aim is
rarely ut fault. and when the birds
head appears i'm sight again large
trout usually comes up with IL. The
heron rises lazily from the creek. trail.
ing its spndling legs, and flies home
with its savory burden.
Late in the season. when trout begin
20 congFeente where small spring runs
empty into the stream. the heron will
be found fishing there. as Il seems 10
know well. ~ docs the kingisher. all
the habits OF the fish II loves so we'll 10
feed upon. One heron with free scope
on a trout stream will likely tnke from
1t n thousand trout. many OF them
heavy with spawn. during the time a..
big bird fishes. which is from the time
the ice leaves the creeks I'm the spring
until IL forms on them again the fol
lowing winter.
The mink fishes nh winter long as
we'll as In the summer. In fact. it is
during the icebound period that II Is
most destructive 10 trout.
The kingiisher is not so certain In It's
aim as the heron. but one failure never
discourageS this winged marauder IL
will resume it's perch on the dead limb
AN outlook il seems 10 prefer-settle
down with its watchman's rattle cry
and watch and dive until the prize is
won.
The kingfisher is no stici1leg for size
IN trout. hat tries for the first that
comes along. IL is q greedy fisher. or.
rather. perhaps the family that'it feeds
has an Unsuitable appetite. for the bird
has been known 10 return ten times TO
Niit NllLlu uu iobI anu
carry away Il trout every time \
catch which il makes I'm that length OF
time the best OF anglers nowadays
would consider something TO boast OF.
water snakes. basking by the hun
dreds along every trout stream. fish
with so much tact and cunning that
they number their prey by thousands
from the time they come ont of their
alternating places. which is as soon rs
fle weather begins 10 get warm. until
the approach Of winter drives them
back into their holes.
There is no knowing 10 how great .
degree the trout retaliate on the snakes
for their warfare. but that they do
make reprisals is known 10 every an
gieF. Cor mnpy 2 biz trout when
dressed is found 10 have from one 10
three young water snakes in his stom-
nch
ut IL fortunate not only for the
trout. but for all kinds OF brook. pond
and river fishes. that the swapping tur-
tie Is or extremely slow growth and
that its eggs are themselves the prey
81 birds. snakes. muskrats and various
predatory things for il is one of the
aeadliest foes 70 the hnny tribe Bulky
and apparently clumsy as these tor
pidabiS creatures are they are so
quick. willy ana active when hunting
streams that no trout that swapping
turtle darfo foe axap oao.,.. 90 Csl.t