Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-01
TRUTHFUL TALE :
OF FISHERMEN
Es. gentlemen. saw the speck-.


i down stream, for the water
was clear as crystal" began the first
fisherman. Gently I shoveled out
gaudy fly right in his path and was re-
warded with the trout stopping in his
serene course to give it a look. Still he
only nosed around 1t like an epicure.
Just as I was about to lay down the
rod in disgust the water began to
fairly boil, and when the rod was all
most jerked out of my listless hands i
knew that I had hooked that rogue
trout. The struggle was fierce one,
but finally drew the f1nny fighter
wiggling above the waterfall f1rstt
Then I realized that I had hooked him
by the tail.
Gentlemen, the delicate membranes
at the end of that trout's tail were en-
closed in plain gold ring that had
lost ten years before while swimming
in that same stream. A malformation
had resulted which covered the ring in
parts, but enough of the metal was
exposed to allow me to recognize 1t
and to realize how my hook had
caught in it. What dye think Of
that?"
'Well, we'll, we'll, that certainly was
wonderful" said the second angler, ex-
changing sympathetic glances with the
third, whose face had now assumed
look Of settled melancholy. "The ring
must be a great curiosity and 1 sup
pose you have it with you"
1.-THE reason I haven't got that ring
to show" explained the first fisher
man, "is because I believe and practice
the ethics of true sport. When I saw
that ring tailed trout gasping there
the thought suddenly came to me that
the trout hadn't had a fair deal at all.
He hadn't bit at my hook. so threw
him back in the stream for fairer
chance. but he got out Of reach mighty
quickly"
"I hated to interrupt you" said the
second fisherman alphabetically, FOR
1 was doubtful whether 1t was the
same trout that 1 hooked--but when
you say that you returned him to the
stream that clears UP everything.
can confirm with my own eyes the
truth of your wonderful story"
"Why, were you there?" gasped the
story teller.
"I was near the spot on the sans
stream. judge that you were fishing
near the old beaver dam. Yes? Well.
I was looking for trout about half a
mile down stream on the same day,
and-you may believe me or believe me
not-I caught the same trout in ex-
actly the same way-my hook caught
in that ring of yours on his tall
Dragging him up on the bank just
the same as you did few hours be-
fore, L was struck by the same idea OF
giving him fair deal. But before I
threw him back in the water took out
a small toy bell that 1 happened to-
have in my vest pocket for my chll-
dren, and 1 attached 1t to the ring.
much in the same way as tying tin
can to a dogs tail. 1t was wholly In
the interest of science, however, for
wished to note if fish could be led by
bell the same as sheep. And So
"They are, my dear sir" broke in the
third fisherman, rousing up from his
melancholy. And the reason that I
know is because L watched your ex-
pertinent with that same trout"
What" they both exclaimed, were
you there, too?"
81 was lying on a bank about two
miles below you sportsmen," said the
third fisherman, when was attracted
by bell ringing apparently in the
water. 1 had no jug with me, gentle-
men, mind you. Then 1 noticed big
trout coming along like Swiss bell
ringer, with about two hundred curious
trout following to know what the
chimes meant. 1 caught fifty of them"
That's enough" said the first fish
erman, "the drinks are on me-"
He Took Tainted Money
Major Marks, formerly a leading