Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-14

A number of the more enthusiastic
anglers arranged a trip to the Eastern
branch for last Wednesday morning to
fish for catfish and mullets. The snow
made the weather conditions anything
but propitious. however, and the trip
was abandoned.
Anglers were surprised when they
learned of the luck that had attended
the efforts of number of walton
followers who last week fshed from
the Benning bridge and boats in that
vicinity.
.'The old regulars were on the job '
commented an angler who witnessed
number of catches. and thousands OF
and it was not until the snow came
that the enthusiasts abandoned the
water"
Sportsmen who had a good thing
on the branch said but little abou,
their success, and, tbs stated, 1t was
not until the bad weather reappeared
that they made known the location OF
their fishing grounds. They bafted with
cut smelt and shrimp.
"And the secret of our success" one
of the anglers told a friend, was the
use of small bait"
Death early this year removed one OF
the most enthusiastic anglers ever
known in this city. Daniel Ballauf. who
was eightyfive years old.
Daniel Ballauf was a retired model
maker He never retired from the sport
of angling, however. until death called
him. For many years he did most Of his
fishing from the wharf at Mount Vernon
or from the shore nearby, and 1t Is said
that he always was the proud possessoI
of any fish he caught, never falling to
take them home.
TT was never a question Of the size
Of the fish he caught" commented John
W. Hurley. He was as well satisfied
with few smelts or perch as is bass
fisherman with f1ve-pounder.'
Mr.. Ballauf spent so much time on the
wharf at Mount Vernon that the crew
of the steamer Manchester and persons
employed on the grounds at Mount Yer.
non thought something was wrong when
he failed to appear.
"And Mr.. Ballauf always insisted upon
paying his fare on the steamer" said
a member Of the crew Of the boat, al.
though he could have ridden free. Or
the wharf at Mount Vernon he often re-
lieved those in charge and collected
tickets, but he never accepted gratu-
ity.'
Louis Nasser of Washington and Co
| 1onial Beach, Va, who has the reputa
| ton Of being the most successful angler
at any river resort, was in the city this
month. He came to visit few of his
W
were members Of fishing club. an6
| some who were never known as fisher
men.
I'm only seventy-nine years old" sait
the sportsman, but I'm still in for fish
When Mr.. Nasser came to this city
was his intention to return in q few
days. but q coating Of ice on the rive
made It impossible for him to get away
and he had to remain here more thai
| two weeks.
| But I watched for the going Of tn
steamer" he said. after he had boards
the steamer Wakefield, land now I'm &c
ing back to the place where fishing wi
be good in the near future"
Discussing fishing club of which h
was member many years ago, tn
| sportsman said that most of the mem
bers are dead.
"And here I am" he added. "onl
| seventy-nine years old and still entoyin
the sport"
Ward Savage has issued a call for
meeting of anglers to form fishing clul
Several rod and line sportsmen, anxiou
to form a club. have obtained an optic
on an island in the upper Potomac.
TT is in a part of the river where has
are plentiful" Mr.. Savage told part
Of friends, land it is not so easy of az
cess that the place Is being fished I
DEATH
The island is not great distance fror
the mouth of Goose creek, it is stated
the place where, so the story runs, War
Savage had an educated fish. Friend
who tell the story declare that govern
ment experts were unable to tell tn
species Of that particular fish.
$50 frequently was the fish taken frol
the water to be examined" commente
w. D. Barry, relating the story, that
became accustomed to dry land an
finally followed Savage about on shor
although confess never saw the fish
WELL" he continued. according to til
story, the fish followed its owner unit
one day it fell through a hole in a bride
, over Goose creek and was drowned"
Its true story" added Savage. ian
you know John Hurley will not belle,
it."
T. B. Walker has Informed Maj. Sylve
ter, the District game warden. that /
has fed a number of quail. cardinal
doves and other birds this winter. tt
birds visited Walker every day at h
tent in Rock Creek cemetery, and durir
the time the ground was covered wit
, snow they were given all they could eat.
/ Fully fifteen quail have been almo
daily visitors to the cemetery. and visito