The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-11-05

O'Neill. Neb.. Nov. 3.-Scar Face
Billy. monster pet pickerel belonging
to Frank Barrett. Dry creek ranch.
man near here. has come up from
his Dry and Spring creek summer
hunting streams to hibernate in the
big reservoir tank OF the ranch's
stock watering system. As. for many
yearA past. the big fish was lifted
from the shallow waters at the head
of Spring creek few days ago and
carried in the arms OF his master to
the reservoir near the ranch build
ings. there to remain until next
spring. when he again will be turned
out 10 keep the carp and other
sucker fish from destroying the
spawn in the game fish spawning
beds of the upper reaches OF Spring
creek.
Scar Face Billy. one Of the few pet
game fish in America. gets his name
from a long white scar which runs
diagonally across his nose from be-
low tho right eye to point Just
above the left nostril II was re-
ceived eight years ago, when he was
struck by the spear Of a carp fish.
errnan and nearly killed. He was
found. stunned and bleeding. by his
present master a few hours later and
taken TO the ranch buildings and ten
DERBY nursed back to health and
yigor. The warm friendship which
sprang up between the two during
the period OF convalescence has rip
ened into a real affection. and now
tho big fish win swim beside his
master as the latter mows along the
streams bank. and catch the panic.
stricken frogs which spring from in
front OF the mower sickle into the
water.
Billy weighed 1874 pounds when
placed in winter quarters recently.
and as he weighed two and one-half
pounds when rescued eight years ago,
his age Is estimated by fish experts at
about IL years. His length IL 3s II
inches and he Is not growing as fast
tho last several years as when young
er. but gradually is becoming corpu-
lent. He now measures Il inches
around the waist, but this win be
somewhat reduced when he comes out
OF his winter lethargy next spring.
His extreme antipathy to carp.
which Is probably due to being mis-
taken for one by the spearman eight
Years ago. began to develop soon
after his recovery from his injuries
and when he was placed temporarily
in a small pond near the ranch
buildings to regain his strength. The
pond was thickiy infested with them
and Billy made life miserable for the
"leather-sides" when not being fed
frogs by his master.
The needle like teeth OF the picker.
ell. sloping backward, then we're about
a quarter OF an inch long. and the
three rows in each jaw were weapons
capable even then OF inflicting fatal
wounds upon his victims. They since
have kept pace with his growth. un.
Ill now he can successfully combat q
muskrat. which Is some fighter.
Mr.. Barrett was quick 10 appreciate
the aversion of the pickerel TO carp
and to capitalize It. He placed the
fish I'm Spring creek, great spawn.
ing bed for game fish, and by feed
ing II on frogs each day. oemented
its friendship. which had first been
aroused by stroking it's head and
scratching its sides.
The pickerel In as appreciative OF
these caresses az pct pig. and in
the summer viii como mp to the
stream bank for netting whenever Its
master approaches u Ia wary OF
others, however. and will not permi,
them TO handle IL. In fact. several