Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-11
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A MAN CAUGHT.
Experiences Which Incline q Strong
Swimmer to Believe Big Fish Stories.

Half a dozen men were talking trout
in one of the up-to hotels, after
shad supper, the other night, says the
New York Sun. One Of the party told
of a three-pound fish that he landed
with a five ounce rod last summer, and
another Of a seven-pound blackfish
caught with similar rod by a we'll
known newspaper man, of the Great
Kills, Staten Island, last summer
He was fishing for snappers (blue-
fish fry), and, hooking a blackfish In
shallow water, near an old sunken
wreck that lies there. fought 1t Tor
over an hour, and landed 1t. So the
fish stories, true and otherwise, went
on. Finally one Of the party, gun
ner, said, with laugh:
ITO hear you fellows talk. one would
think a six-ounce trout pole and SIN
gle leader would land a shark. Now
dust shot will not kill an eagle, though
It may blind him, and I am a little
skeptical about these fish stories"
The best fisherman of the party re-
piled:
well, you are a pretty good SWIM
mer. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll bet
YOU a suit of clothes that II you will
play the fish, with an ordinary trout
line attached to a swivel between your
shoulders, /, with a six-ounce pole,
viii land you and bring you to bag"
The bet was accepted. and rev
days later the contest came on In one
of the swimming baths Of this city.
piece of ribbon was passed In q
loop over each shoulder Of the man
fish, and fastened between the should
ers to a fair-sized swivel, to which was
attached q thirty seven. strand Eng
lish woven silk line. which was reel
ed on an ordinary FIVE and halr
ounce trout rod. The fisherman STOOD
on the diving platform, rod In hand
with the line rather slack, and the fsn
stood half way down the bath. The
fish was to take a header, and this
was to constitute the strike Of the hsn.
The victory was to be decided by. the
swimmer reaching the end OF the oatn'
or the fisherman towing him within
reach of the landing net twice out OF
three tries.
The signal given, In dived the hsn'
and the fisherman gave him all tne
line he wanted until his head appear
ed and then put on a little strain
which turned the swimmer slightly
sidewise The fish, not perceiving this
for q second, struck out strongly for
the end of the bath, but the strain,
slight as II was turned him more and
more around, and turning his head 10
look. he lost ground for breath, and
was hauled over on his back. For an
unincumbered swimmer to turn onto
his chest from his back is very easy
but with that pull between the should
ers It is a very different matter. AS
a finger under the chin will hold
swimmer UP when learning, so that
touch of a finger on the line towed the
swimmer halfway down the bath be-
fore he could get the line slack ana
turn again By that time he was near
ly out of breath, and still the trihing
strain held him just enough to impede
him without stopping him.
Slowly and steadily he moved
ahead, combating the side strain this
time by increased exertion OF the left
arm, and seemed In a fair way or max
ing the goal, when zip the point OF
the rod swung-.over7T and aided by
the strong sweep Of the left arm
the strain caught the fish as II
the butt had been given. and
round he came again on his chest. A
mad plunge to break the line resulted
only in a loss Of ten feet OF line, but
the swimmer secured his turn, ana
again set his face for the end. Nov
ing the point Of the rod to the left,
to the right, raising it, sinking IT,
catching the man fish wherever he
showed a weak spot the willy angler
played him right across the open
space. and within ten feet Of the end,
and then, gauging the moment, ne
gave him the butt, and snap went the
line. and the fish struck home. One
leg of the three for the fish. Time,
seven minutes and quarter.
The fish had a good rub down, hot
lemonade. and a rest Of half an hour'
and then fresh start was MADE
home. Carefully handling the fish, ne
caught him rising from the header,
and promptly turned him on his back
in a way that surprised him, and as
the fish plunged to the bottom to try
and break the line again (this being
the equivalent of sparring for WINDY,
another round turn brought him to
90 he 6chnrn1Qn
and struggle as he might, he could
not get away. Plunge after plunge
was of no avail and only prevented
further reeling in. until finally lucky
turn brought the fish over, and he was
promptly reeled in. before he could get
on his chest again. Time, four min
utes. Leg and leg
Another rest was taken. and now
the fisherman wanted to back himselt
at five to one for the last leg, but not
even the fish seemed inclined to take
him. This time the fish dressed him.
self and rested an hour, walking
around, and before going In taking
strong, rough rub. This time curious
thing occurred. AS he dived in, his
foot SnpPeu anu lie stiuSN 'iiS
sidewise. The quick angler had MIN
on his back under the water the next
moment. and il he had persisted IN
reeling him up would possibly nave
drowned him, so helpless was the hsh.
Amid laughter he let up. and the hsh
was allowed to land and start again.
This time a successful header was tax
6Oh
ming solely with the side stroke, the
fish could see all the movements OF
the angler. and so forged ahead until
the downward stroke Of his right arm
swert the bottom at the shallow end
Of the bath. Feeling the shallow, with
-.lA.or.. ,,.ithin reach the fish turned