The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-03-08
A Ring-Tailed Trout.

A Ring-Tailed Trout.
Yes, gentlemen, saw the speckled
beauty come drifting lazily down
stream for, the water was clear as,
crystal" began the First Fisherman.
Gently I showed out a gaudy fly
right in his path, and was rewarded
by the trout stopping in his serene
course to give it look. Still he only
nosed around it like an epicure.
Just as [ was about to lay down
the rod in disgust the water began to.
fairly boil, and when the rod was al
most jerked out of my listless hands
knew that I had hooked that rogue,
trout. The struggle was fierce one,
but finally l drew the fnny fighter
wlggling above the waterfall first
Then [ realized that I had hooked
him by the tail.
"Gentlemen, the delicate membranes
at the end of that trout's tail were in
closed in plain gold ring that [ had
lost ten years before while swimming
in that same stream. A malforma-
ton had resulted, which covered the
ring in parts, but enough of the metal
was exposed to allow me to recognize
and to realize how my hook had
caught it. What dye think of that?'s
''Well, we'll, we'll. that certainly was
wonderful" said thensecond angler,
exchanging sympathetic chances with
the third, whose face had now assumed
look of settled melancholy. :sThe
ring must be great curiosity, and
suppose you have it with you.''
"The reason haven't got that ring
to show,'' explained the First Fisher
man, lis that believe and practice
the ethics of true sport. When 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 I threw
him back in the stream for aNfairer
chance, but he got out of reach
mighty quickly" ....
g [ hated to interrupt you.'' said the
Second Fisherman, apologetically,
for was doubtful whether it was
the same trout that I hooked-but
when you say that you returned him
to the stream that clears up every
thing. I can confirm with nv own
eyes the truth of your wonderful
story"
''Why, we're you there?" gasped the
story teller.
g was near the spot, on the same
stream. I judge that you were fish
ing near the old beaver dam. Yes?
Well, I was looking for trout about
half mile down stream on the same
day, and-you may believe me or be-
lieve me not-I caught the same trout
in exactly the same way-my hook
caught in that ring of yours on his
tail.
''Dragging him upon the bank just
the same as you did few hours be-
fore, was struck by the same idea OF
giving him a fair deal. But before
threw him back in the water took out
a small toy bell that I happened to
have in my vest pocket for my. child
rem, and I attached it to the ring
much in the same way as tying a tin
can to dogs tail. It was wholly in
the interest of science, however, for I
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 I watched you
experiment with that same trout
"What?' they both exclaimed,
"were you there, too?"
81 was lying on bank about two
miles below you sportsmen, . said the
Third Fisherman, "when I was at
tracted by bell ringing apparently
in the water. Ihad no jug with me,
gentlemen, mind you. Then noticed
a big trout coming along like Swiss
bell ringer, with about 200 curious
trout following to know what the
chimes meant. I caught fifty of
them"
That's enough" said the First
Fisherman, 'sthe drinks are on me. y
New York Herald. =