The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-22
WORKING THE DRUMFISH.
A y-product Of the Search for the
Lost Sister.in.law.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN-Str, I
vas very much Interested In reading
last week OF the temperance OF the
so-called "drumflsh" at the oyster beds
near Egg Harbor. ". j. 1t Seems that
these fish raid the oyster beds, and
cracking the oyster shells devour the
oysters. l am very DESTROYS OF obtain
ing a live, healthy "drumiish' and no
carrying out n little scheme ! have In
mind to please my wife.
Ever since | lost my blonde sister-in-
law in the Grand Central station some
weeks ago I have striven to do all In
my power to palliate my wife's wrath
at the loss of her sister, for which she
holds me responsible, by gratifying her
every within. My wife Is extremely FOND
OF raw oysters. and so am l.. for that
matter. Now, every one knows that the
sooner an oyster IL eaten after II Is
opened the better Is Its flavor. Our
cook will simply not open oystere l
tried 1t once. The result after ono min
ute's work was one badly cut left hand
and one slightly scratched oyster she'll.
The hand. I need not explain, belonged
to me and the shell 30 the oyster.
II was the recollection of that ex-
pcrienco thai made me think Of getting
a "%drumfsh." My idea Is 10 keep a
live "drumnsh" in an aquarium In the
kitchen. Just before the time for serv-
ing the oysters ! will lower them. one
at a time. by means of a string at
tachcd 20 the shell with adhesive plas-
ter, to the waiting "drurnfish," closely
keeping watch through the glass sides
OF tho aquarium. Just as soon as the
oyster Is tracked by the fish l would
withdraw Il quickly by means OF the
string before the voracious fish could
devour It. In fairness to the fish !
would allow II a certain percentage or
the oysters Il cracked for It's own con-
sumption say one U OF every three
dozen. | would also assure the a. $.
T.. c. +. that my Ash will rave the
best OF care, and when oysters are out
Of season I will keep 1t supplied with
n reasonable amount Of English wal
nuts 20 keep Il IN cracking practice.
Speaking Of fsh reminds me Of a
slippery trick which was played on me
u day or so ago by no less n person
thar my old friend Bill. / had Just had
a most exciting and unpleasant expert
encc before I met him. else he never
would have been able 20 put Il over on
me. 1 was walking down Iongacre
Square looking each blonde ] passed
closely IN the face hoping to md my
lost s.ster-in-lav and being so occupied
I'm that particular locality. believe me,
! was very busy. one lady. however,
declared ! was annoying her and called
n policeman. ] explained 70 him about
nay lost slster-ln-law. and fortunately
for me, he proved to be n reader Of
THE SIN and so he understood. should
have let well enough alone, but In
stead, TO prove further my innocence, !
said TO the officer: you see this IL
clearly a case of mistaken Identity. NY
~ -'stcr-in-law IL a real blonde" The
complaining lady overheard, and things
began to happen right there despite
the efforts OF the policeman and several
~ as brothers IN my behalf. kipl!ng
IS d"td right
After my escape I had my eye painted
out, my clothes brushed. and | pur-
chased for myself another collar and tie
and a new straw hat. II was then that
! met Bill. I WAS sadly in need Of re-
froshment and Bill said. "Oh, 7 don't
mind Bill never does. After we had
had thirteen drinks TO prove that we
were not superstitious. We had a few
more - get up an appetite for dinner.
When We had taken these we had no
appetite for food and 50 replaced the
inner by several drinks. Then We
started for B!ll's rooms. on the way
Bll nearly got into trouble nv 'nistak-
Ing n police patrol wagon Cor a bus
and trying to get into Il You can al
together b!ame Bill. for both vehicles
are painted green.
After We had reached Rms room
and were comfortably settled with n
wniskey and soda apiece. Bill quoted
Colonel Roosevelt as saying that he
was like King Agag lie arched his
neck and walked softly" T~hereupon
BIZ. who knows I am a great admlrer
o' the Colonies. bet me So | couldnt
arch my neck and walk softly. He
suggested this In an irr!tatlng.y conde-
sccndlug manner, although he himself
had fallen over two chairs and the
piano on coming In. THIS. It seems.
was BINS idea OF n Joke. Well, !
walked about BIZ = rooms for two hours
arch!ug my neck before l got il into
"A satisfactory arch. and u is hard to
arch your neck and look into the glass
N tho same time. AS for walking
softly. II YOU overlook my upsotting a
nine gallon FISH globe, I was fairly sue
cessful at that too. ! won the bet.
To-day ! nave n very sore, stifr neck
and my lost blonde sister-in-law is still
unbound. T. p.
NEW YORK, June 81.