The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1914-10-10
THE WONDERFUL
FISHERMAN.
Emile Chopin, of BrU1ssard-
vile, Catches Fish from
Streams by the Employ
ment Of |his hands only.

On Thursd3y " afternoon Messrs. NJ
Galliand, w IG Meeks, F. F. Klee
man, Z. A. Btbn and f. F. M1llard
went by autdRobiles up to Bronssard
vilte to see Hmile Chopin, The won
derful fisherman, catch fish in his pc.
culiar manner, without hook, line,
net, or ENLARGEMENT. They saw and
were bew1ldered.
At Broussardville the party was re-
ceived by Mr.. Hebert Builleaud and
entertained in most hospitable man
ner at his residence, while the last de-
tails OF tie arrangements were being
made for the trip to Bayou Tortue, the
selected grounds for the test of Cho-
plin's powers. The trip through a
part of the Billeaud magnificent and
extensive cane fields, on the way to
the bayou, was a pleasure to all
worthy Of being noted.
At the bayou Chopin put on his wa
ter togs; without much ceremony pro-
ceeded into the water. The water
was nowhere deeper than wading
depth; it was without motion, and was
what might be styled clear, as bayou
waters go, The wader seemed in no
himself on those on the bank would
frighten away the game. After splash
ing about in the water, crossing the
stream a couple Of times, talking to
himself, the fish, indulging in repartee
with those watching. he stretched
forth his hands, mutteriRg words
not quite distlnguishable to those
on the shore. then, below the
surface of the water, he brought the
palms Of his hands together and rails
ed them from the water, and opening
his hands exhibited perch lying IN
his palm. The fish upon being hurled
out on to the bank floundered as
might be expected. This performance
was repeated several times with slight
variations.
At one time, in plain view of the
bank party, he apparently coaxed a
large perch from the depths of the
stream and caused it to swim between
his parallel perpendicular palms held
at the surface of the water as he took
several steps backward. The fish as
it swan was seen by all. He then
brought his palms together and raised
his hand out of the water. Upon
parting his hands a large porch lay
quietly upon his palm. 1t was thrown
to the bank where 1T fioundred as the
others had done This performance
had it's duplicate, though in the second
the fish was not allowed to swim so
far before being closed upon.
Chopin was repeatedly asked to
catch catfish. This he seemed re-
luctant to do, but finally proceeded to
comply. Under sunken log he locat-
ed his prey. For quite while it was
apparently able to resist his power.
causing him to repeatedly jump over
the log and apply his efforts on first
one side then the other. Finally the
fish gave up and came 70 his hands,
when it was thrown to the bank with
an exclamation OF satisfaction on his
part. It was a mud cat about four or
five inches long. ii was in no manner
hurt and upon being put back into the
water swan away with great energy.
One OF the perch, upon being held
in the water, showed full vigor and no
apparent harm from being caught or
from being thrown to the bank and
when finally released, swan Oft
quickly
None of The party were able to de
tect Choplin's employing any other
means than his naked hands in the
catching of the fish. How did he do
it?" is the unanswered question. In
certain instances the fish seem to be
charmed and would come" to his
hands. His only trouble seemed to
be in locating their where -abouts; but
this done, he would announce the fact
and name the species some moments
before making the fish his captive,
Just as though he could by some pow
er see the fish in its hiding beneath
the water.
The suggestions offered by many
that be 'dopes'' the water-feeds the
fish-trains them to being caught by
him -muddies the waters-and many
others--do not seem to tit the case.
His watchers, on this occasion, were
as anxious as anyone could be to di-
vine his mysterious power or perfor-
nance.
Chicken GraveI and coarse SAND,
mixed, in small packages, for the
poultry raisers.
BERTRAND LUMBER co.