The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-09-22

ing no casting or other fine rod work
10 be done, They maintain, and not
unjustly, that as much skill Is needed
10 lure some OF the fresh water vari-
cites to the bait as 10 land them after
strike, and that one misses the keen
battle Of wit against instinct and
natural warincss. All OF which, while
true. does not alter the fact that sur
roundings play an allimportant part
In the full enjoyment of a days out
Ing with rod and reel, a thing even the
most enthusiastic angler would soon
come 70 realize were It possible to
catch the highly priced varieties
from the unpicturesque docks along
the water fronts of our cities.
There is Unborn within all OF us a
keen love Of the beautiful In nature
and In the appeal made TO II by the
country into which we are taken
lies much Of the fascination OF ang-
ling. We are stirred by the swish OF
the wind through the swaying trees,
the murmur OF the brook, the silence
OF the deep pool among the rocks, the
placid lake, the fragrance and mys-
terry OF the wild woods.
And is not the sea every bit as fas-
cinatirg? Indeed, once experienced,
one never again escapes the subtle
spell II weayes about one with its salt
laden breezes, its wonderful skies, the
great body Of water sparkling in the
sunshine, the silvery beaches. rocky
ledges and lIxurian. green shores.
The blackhsh inhabits localities that
show the sea at its best and he is so
game and crafty a fighter as to leave
nothing to wish for on this score.
1t is not for nothing that he has won
for himself the name of bulldog Of
the sea-" His large, powerful jaw
is of iron, and he will dispute every
inch Of line, resorting TO all man
ner of clever tricks in order to free
himself He is never caught until you
have him safely IN the boat and the
skirmish between you will likely end
In his getting Cway with the best part
OF your tackle unless your hand is
skilled and your attention unwaYer-
ing.
The blackfish Is to be found along
the shores Of New York, Connecticut,
Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Old
fishermen claim that his appearance
north of Rhode Island is comparative
ly Of recent date. In days gone by,
when the Indians roamed the terri
tory at will he had place among their
choicest table delicacies and we are
told that the Mohegans, who called
him "tautog,' held him in high es-
teen as a spring and fall food
The name Of blackdsh, evidently
due to the flsh's color, is not a par
ticularly fortunate one. Though the
black is Of dark gray and mottled,
the sides are decidedly lighter and
the under part almost white.
The blacktish inhabits the vicinity
of rocky ledges, reefs and rough bot
toms and shows a decided preference
for places where the tide runs swift
iy. Here he will lie in ambush be.
hind some sheltering rock and await
the passage Of shrimp and small crabs
carried down by the tide. When he
spies his prey he darts out with light,
ming rapidity, pounces upon it and
darts back to cover. This predilec.
ton for tidal fiues has won him the
name of tide runner" in certain To-
calities He is also found inside the
sandy bays along the southern shore
of Long Island and on the ocean banks
eff Sandy Hook. In fact, the largest
specimens are to be caught in these
localities, and this, added to a slight
but noticeable difference of color be.
tween the rock and the sand catches,
has led to the belief that there are
two distinct varieties Of blackfsh,
which is not the case. Only one ex-
lists.
Wondrous tales are told in the
eastern fish market regarding the
size Of some of the blackfish brought
In from the banks and there are those
who will swear to having seen 80
Founders weighed. Like the majority
of extraordinary fish stories they can
not be credited. No specimen tipping
the scale even at 20 pounds is au-
thentically on record, and ten pound
ers are considered a wonderful rar-
lty. Men who fish constantly claim
that the seasons average shows a
preponderance Of two and three
Founders, with few five, six or even
seven Founders to boast Of
New Workers are quite partial to