Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-06-01
A SeaSOnable Fish Story.

correspondent of the Richmond Times
Dispatch, Oscar Red and John Green
went eel fishing the other day In a
famous artificial lake, about two miles
south Of the village, which, by reason
of the unusually large eels that have
been captured there, is believed to
have a direct connection with some
large arm of the Atlantic Ocean.
They had already drawn forth sew
eral eels when Oscar, while endeayor-
ing to dispatch freshly landed one,
cut a small silver OF flesh of mis- hand.
In a spirit OF fun he wrapped the
piece of flesh on the point OF a hook
and cast II into the Iake.
In surprisingly short time be got
a bite, and firmly graspIng the pole
with both hands he tried to land the
eel in the usual manner, but the sud-
denness and savageness OF the pull at
the end OF the line soon landed the
fisherman IN the water. John rush.
ing to his chum assistance, but both
boys got complete ducking before
they succeeded IN bringing forth their
line, and at the end OF 1t was a S.
pound fish, entirely different from
any hsh seen IN this section.
The shape OF the body and tail
somewhat resembles d German carp,
although the scales are as large as a
quarter and very coarse, and under
these scales and over the entire body
is coating of fine soft hair, about
one-half an inch longs
But the most remarkable feature
OF this fish is the head, the face Of
which is stnkIngly like that of hu-
man being even to the most minute
detail, save that the nose and the
mouth protrude further forward, and
the head comes in more sharply on
the sides. The teeth are set in sock
cts, and, while similar in shape, they
are somewhat larger than those of an
adult human being.
The top of the head and the sides
and under portion are covered with
very heavy growth OF hair about six
inches long. The white meat Of chick
en- is about the only food this strange
fish will eat, but it is doing fairly
well in captivity. 1t Is a very fero-
cious fish for its size, and manifests
the greatest dislike for strangers.
Shortly after the news OF the cap
ture of this fsh reached Morrisville
there arrived a small, weakened, dried
up looking little man, with long and
unkempt hair and whiskers, wearing
a pair of long spectacles, who spoke
with foreign accent, gave his name
as Ernest Won Simprecht, and said he
was professor of ichthyology in the
University Of Leipsic.
The stranger took wonderful in
terest in the fish, and after a careful
inspection announced that it was the
only known specimen Of this species
of this fish either alive or as fossil,
in the possession Of man today, and
while some Of the early Greek writer's
had described fish similar to this.
and there are references to it in the
older portion of the literature Of ia
pan, the world Of history and science
had heretofore looked upon these
statements as myths.
Professor Won Simprecht states that
while this fish would not likely at
tack an active man or woman, all
available evidence goes TO show that
this fish in it's natural surroundings
lives entirely upon human flesh, and
can only be captured BY using Aesh
as a bait. -
The captive fish is a male, and Pro-
fessor yon Simprecht says that its
mate is most likely in the lake, even
if no more are present, and be has
sent to medical college after some
human fesh to be used as bait for the
capture of a female, stimulating the
endeavors in that direction by offer
ing a reward Of $4,000 for a female
Of this species. There is scarcely a
boy in this community that has not
three or four fingers tied up where
he has been stripping of the Aesh in
his eagerness 10 secure the prize.
MARX Twain wac visiting H. II.