Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-07-03

talk they decided that the temper
ature of the water should be at Sc.
Sneed he'd out for fresh water, and
Jackson for salt, and finally they
agreed to use half sea water and
half fresh water, as being the near
est possible to fairness to both fiYh.
Meantime Sneed was training Case
for the battle. On the way out in an
express car the big muskie had been
fed literally, but after arrival he
was placed in a metal lined tank on
the pier, Sneed fed him but little,
giving him a few scraps Of bacon
rind, piece Of clam, and a few soft
she'll sand crabs each day. He tried
Case carefully in salt water. The
big muskie plainly was distressed.
He thrashed and fought as II in
lagony. Then he tried diluting the salt
water and found that sea water di-
luted to half strength seemed to
have no Ill effects on him.
For three days before the battle
the big muskellunge practically got
nothing to eat and was kept in water
about 65 degrees in temperature.
He was sluggish and slow, but the
flash of speed he showed when food
was dropped into the zinc-lined tank
showed how hungry he was, and
how ready TO battle for food.
Contest i'm Venetian Baths.
On the afternoon of the battle
fourteen men all fishermen, gather
ed In the big swimming room of the
beautiful Venetian baths. The water
had been prepared, and its tempera-
ture was exactly according to the
conditions. The water was limpld
and against the white bottom of the
pool even a pin could be seen. The
fish were brought in In their tanks.
Nobody, except Jackson, knew what
kind of finny champion he would
produce until the helpers prepared
to weight the contestants. A cloth
attached to a hanging sca,e was
placed under the body of the big
muskie, and he was lifted clear of
the tank. the Judge announcing his
weight as "a pounds ounces.
The announcer jestingly pro-
nounced him champion of the fresh
waters of America and heavyweight
champion OF Wisconsin. Then the
scales were moved to the opposite
corner, and the cloth passed unler
the occupant OF the other tank.
When the cloth was -aised there was
struggle, a filerco lunge, and the
sportsmen saw hideous shark
In the cloth. The judges
consulted and announced the weight
Of the shark at SO pounds 10 ounces.
Jacksons champion was over
weight. The judges offered to let
Sneed withdraw his bet, but he re-
fused and agreed to give the salt
water champion pounds onces.
Battle Between Shark and Muslxie.
At the word from the referee the
tanks were overturned In the big
swimming tank, and after the bub-
bles subsided the crowd saw the an
tagonists. The big muskie was
standing almost still. slowly moving =
his fms as he sank lower and lower
In the water. Eighty feet away, at ,
the opposite side of the tank. the '
shark was swimming slowly, in n |
small circle, around and around. ,
For perhaps half a minute not q
move was made.
Then. like two flashes of lightning /
rushing together the fish tore through |
the water. The white belly OF the
shark showed for a trlce, and above
him the water broke as the superb
body of the champion of Wisconsin
dashed through the sunlight that
streamed through the glass sides and 1
top OF the inclosure.
Before the spectators could reaMze ,
II the antagonists rushed each other /
again. Again the shark turned,
again the muski. broke water and
irched back, diving deep. and, like
, flash, shooting up under his foe as
ne turned. A trace of blood showed
n the clear water. and the shark,
With a scratch showing deep on his
side, circled around.
Wisconsin Fish Wins Easily.
Like wreshlers sparring for an
opening, the FISH circled around and
around each other in a ten-foot ring,
irst slowly. then like flashes. Twice
he whit of the sharks belly show
ID. but he made no direct attack.
In fhaxF xuanf arnnnA aud