Evening star., 1924-04-20

the chant of the golf bug,
the racquet wielder, the
a base ball fan. and, in fact,
all other followers OF outdoor sports,
as they gaze alternately at the cal
ender and the sky and long for the
day when overshoes and topcoats
may be discarded without fear of be-
ing routed from the undertaking pur-
suit of their favorite sport by a sud
den and ardo--dampening shower.
1t would be no less than lese
majestic to say that the followers of
any one of these various sports of
kings" are chafing more restIessly at
their bits than are the devotees of
another.
Who, therefore, would be so bold to
assert that the disciples of Izaac
Walton are any less impatient than
the others for the arrival OF the time
when they may seek their favorite
haunts and match wits with the wary
deniZens of the deep?
The recent foods which took the
Potomac out Of bounds just al a time
when indications pointed to an early
angling season was a thrust at their
impatient longings which can only be
effaced by the actual arrival of the
day when the fish begin to run. Daily
reports of river conditions from Har-
pers Ferry are watched with eager
eyes, and close contact is kept with
the outlook from the Highway and
Key bridges.
For be it known that Washington
yields to very few cities of its size
in the excellence of its fishing
grounds. While there are those who
annually HE themselves away to the
lakes of Wisconsin or make a yearly
pilgrimage to Canada in search of
the elusive bass or trout, there is
little doubt that the axiom. Distance
lends enchantment to the view," is
the principal drawing element in
such a journey.
There are probably just as many
fish in the Potomac, in Chesapeake
Bay and in the numerous connecting
streams and estuaries as may be
found in the vicinity of any other
large city in the country. Neither
can one say that these fish are dull
or sluggish. They are just as virile
and red -blooded" and possess as
much fighting spirit, pugnaciousness
and "viciousness' as may be found
anywhere in the country.
1t is strange that there are not
more anglers in the District OF CO.
lumbia than there are. 1t is no
doubt a striking exemplification of
another axiom, that familiarity breeds
contempt Washingtonians are too
close to the scene to appreciate their
fortune. He who lives on the noun
tain top cannot see the mountain.
EOE the ediication of those who
have failed to realize the enjoy
ment and pleasure lying at their
very doors, some of the closely
guarded secrets of a coterie of
Washington anglers anent the habits
and family life of Potomac fish have
been acquired (never mind howl, and
will be disclosed as we'll as is possi-
bic by an amateur.
Before we get into that however,
it may be well to dwell for a mo-
rnent upon the habits and eccen-
tricities of the anglers whence the
Information comes. If you want to
learn about fish, would you go to a
fish wharf? No. That's where they
catch 'em in nets. Therefore, go to
a. bait and tackle store
There, every day at noon, in sum-
mer or winter, in fishing season and
out assemblies a bunch Of cronies--
ardent devotees of the sport made
famous by old Ike Walton-who
would rather talk fish, bait and
tackle than eat. And that is what
they do. Coming on their lunch
hour, they must go without food or
else their Jobs are different from
those of the rest of us.
Sometimes these sages Of rod and
reel divert their daily meeting to
discussions of politics or to argu-
,nents about the relative merits OF
this or that Senate scandal investi-
cation, but it takes mighty impor-
tant subject to warrant any ex-
tended DEPRESSION.
Sooner or later the talk gets back
TO the biggest fish I have caught"
The best place to catch this or that
marine monster or the most tempt
ing bait to dangle before the sensi-
tive snoot of q particularly finfcky
or overly fastidious inhabitant of the
waters.
It may be said without fear of sue
ceSSful CONTRADICTION thdl Hofe hSh
have been and are being caught from
the top of the mad-tom box in the
rear room of the bait and tackle
store than anywhere else from the
Potomac River to Cape Cod.
There each day gather for the
regular noontime fishing fest such
confirmed anglers as George L. Wood,
superintendent of rural mails, Post
once Department; L. c. kemper,
lawyer, 1741 New York avenue; Henry
Madert, a piano tuner; Louis F. Per-
ron, retired plate printer of the bu-
reau of engraving and first president
Of the Potomac Anglers Associa-
tion, and Ed Ford Of the Post Office
Department.