The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-10-05

standards presented by squaw fisher
men.
Fishermen necessarily see and do
wonderful things. If those not men,
bers Of the brotherhood are unable to
assimulate a recital OF these wonders
it is because their believeing appara-
tus has not been properly regulated
and stimulated. Things narrated
have been seen and experienced with
a fisherman's eye and perceptions.
This is perfectly understood by listen
ing to fishermen. And they. to their
enjoyment and edification, are permit
ted, by properly adjusted equipments.
to believe what they hear. This fac
ulty is one Of the safest signs Of the
full-blooded right of membership. II
incredulity is intimated by a profess
sional member no injustice will be
done if he at once is put under sus-
picion as squaw fisherman.
"As to nonmembers who accuse the
true fishermen Of falsehood. it is per-
fectly clear that they are utterly un-
fitted to deal with the subject. The
only theory fitting the condition leads
to the statement that any story of per-
sonal experience told by fisherman
is TO fishing apprehension indubitably
true. and that since the disbelief in
other quarters is owing to lack Of this
apprehension the folly of accusing fish
ermen of habitual untruthfulness Is
quite apparent.
aTarpon fishing has added greatly to
our responsibilities, and even larger
fish than those may, with the extern
sion of American possessions, fall with
| in the treatment of American fisher
men. AS in all past emergencies, we
shall be found sufficient in such flu
ture exigencies. All will go well If,
without pretense of benevolent assim-
ilation. we still fish as is our wont
i and continue our belief in that our
brethren declare they have done or
can do. A few thousand years ago
the question impressiveis was asked
| 'Canst thou draw out leviathan with
a hook?' He must not faiter If, upon
its repetition in future, a brother re-
plies: Yes, with a ten-ounce rod MOI
must he be staggered If anothe- de
clare he already has landed one Of
the monsters.
Explaining why the biggest fish al
ways is lost, Mr.. Cleveland writes:
"The theory has been recently start
led that a trained hunting dog points
bird in a field solely because the
birds scent creates hypnotic infiu
ence on the dog, which impels him BY
sort of suggestion to direct his nose
toward the spot from which sucf
scent eminates. If there is anything
worth considering in this theory, VIII!
may not struggling fish at the end o
line exert such hypnotic influence Il
an intensely excited and receptive ma
ture at the other extremity of the fish
J ing outfit as to suggest the arb
| trary and independent statement Q
1.-THE dimensions Of the hypnotizer?
TT must in frankness be admitted
however, by the fisherman of ever
degree that when the largest trou
| of the day, after a long struggle
winds the leader about snas an
escapes, or when large salmon 0
bass, apparently fatigued to the poin
of nonresistance, suddenly, by an III
expected vicious leap, frees himsel
from the hook, the fisherman's cod
or morals would not condemn beyon
forgiveness the holder of straight
ened rod If he impulsively but wit
all the gentility at his command e.
claim: Damn that FISH
!. "The affections and preference
which in my opinion threaten to brin
injury upon our noble pursuit grow on
Of the undue prominence and exal
gerated superiority claimed for q
casting for trout hasten to say fc
myself and in behalf of all well cond
!, toned fishermen we are not inclined
disparage in the least the delightf'
exhilaration of sudden rise or strik
nor the pleasurable exercise OF ski
and def manipulation Afforded .
!, this method of fishing. At the san
: time, we Of the unpretentious sort
: fishermen are not obliged to forg'
. that often trout refuse to rise an
: strike and will wait at the bottom i
!, food like any plebeian FISH, and that
: frequently is unwary and stup
: enough to be lured to his death
casts of fly that are no better ths
: most awkward filings.
1T probably never will be possiD
for us to gather statistics shown
4 ~.-s,r,x,rr unrrnanS enchanting poem