Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-11
Fish Is So Large
1t is FlOated In.

'Dick Phillips" will be out to Cob
boSSeecOntee as soon as the Ice IS out,
said one of party of bystanders who
were discussing the question Of the ice
going out of the aforementioned lake.
'Becher life said another who also
knew the long suit" Of Dicks spring
proclevtieS And it turned out that
Dick Phillips, or as he perhaps is bet
ter known outside Of Augusta as Rich
ard ]. Upton, the Pullman car conduc-
tor, who plans to get in little time on
Cobnossee as soon as the ice disappears
was on the spot and has since been
enjoying his usual good luck, both in
landing and losing big fish.
Il feel just as well when | come in
at night without strike as l do when
l am more fortunate" he said recently,
for | like to row and be on the water
Say do you know, | think that fish
caught by Hallowell parties the other
day was the one | lost a day or aWo
before 1t was said they got him on
top of the water and | should say the
one l had was about the size of the one
taken by those Hallowell people. I
played my fish for 20 minutes. Had
him UP TO the side of the boat, patted
hin, OF the side with my hand as he
laid perfectly motionless. | had thrown
my landing net up into the bow of the
boat as l saw ! could not make any use
of it with this fish | had his jaws to
cut. the hooks going UP through his
under jaw and through the upper one,
subsequently he could not get his
mouth open, if it hadn't been for that
don't think l would have lost him,
for l could have drowned him, but as
it was he proved a game fish, even af-
ter J. had my 20 minutes of what 1 con-
sidered easy Work. l was going TO land
him by lifting him in with my hand
and as ! was slowly and carefully
working my right hand down under
meath the fish, holding the rod with my
left, nearly reaching the point where |
was to grab him. suddenly he made the
water foam and it was good by Mr.
Fish, he was gone. 1t was my fault
that l lost him, for | could have called
to the boat a short distance away and
with their assistance would have landed
him without any trouble; or l might
have ticated him into the boat, as l did
a big trout last year
"How's that" was asked.
"Well, twas like this went on
Dlck. II was rowing along one af-
ternoon, when 1 got Il strike l felt
that it was a big fish. and after play
ing him as long as l thought neces-
sary for my own amusement and at
the same time getting him under con-
troll 1 made preparations to land
him. After 1 got a glimpse of him
decided that my net was not big
enough-and it's a 22-inch net-to be of
any use, SO at the right moment l just
tipped the boat 50 it took in just
enough water to allow the fish to float
in with it. | have landed fish tina
way several times before and if I had
dore that way with the salmon
wouldn't have lost him"
"Do you think fish bite the second
time. Dick?"
Eyes. know they do. Last year
Cobbosseecontee. and as l was jog
ging along, laying on my oars occa :
sionally, I got a strike. Well ]
played the trout. for that is what it
was. some time, when to my astonish-
ment the fish went, leader and all
| The next day 1 was out again in
about the Same locality when
| story short it was my fish ! lost the
| day berore with the attachment still
| hanging to his mouth, hence I have
| concluded that fish do bite after their
| first experience"