Evening star., 1927-11-28
"The Fishing Genius" "
EO was a GUol. Every one agreed
to that No one but fool
would stick to the fishing busi-
II ncSs when eNerN SINE and sen.

ED was AOI. livery one agreed
to that No one but a fool
would stick to the fishing busi-
IL ness when every sane and sem
sible man in the section knew
that the fish had left the Manitou
waters for good. Ever since the sea-
son of 1918, when the fish had spawned
early during the open season, and all
the fishermen had made a cleanup.
all the fnny tribe seemed to have de-
parted. All the fishermen, realizing
that the raVages of their nets had
ruined their chances of ever having
another such season, all except Leo,
had closed up at the end of the year
A few had fingered for a season or
two TO make sure that their fears were
justified. but at length convinced that
the trout and Whitcfish had departed
for friendlier waters. they too packed
up and left Empire-all except Leo.
But simply staying wasn't the worst
thing Leo did. AS fast as the others
got out Leo negotiated for their shacks
and their tugs and late in 1923, when
Erickson and Larsen had decided to
quit. Leo bought them out at n good
price. Leo was now the fishing king
of Empire, if that meant anything.
He had 10 tugs, three steam and the
rest gas. and there weren't enough fish
in the lake to support the one he was
using every day. 1t was common
knowledge in town that Leo had mort
gagged practically everything he owned
and had exhausted all his 1919 profits
in his great buying spree. Ana here
he was with every fishing wharf in
Empire on his hands and a bunch of
tugs which could never be of any use
to him.
The prophesics of the toWnfolk
seemed fulfilled when August of l924
brought the announcement from Leo
that he was going To tie up. In the
old days it had been the custom TO flSh
until late October or early November
when the hauls were better than at
any other time of the year. But now
apparentlv Leo was fat broke. Every
one agreed that his head had been un-
settled by misfortune when he smil
inglv made the proclamation. Il
guess next Spring won't find the Nina
going out any more" he said and he
didn't seem sad about it ut all. But
the fishing ought to he much better
next Spring.' some one of the older
salts advised him. Leo smiled and
walked out Of the post office.
Leo left town a few days after his
announcement and some one reported
that he had heen seen working in a
Chicago restaurant. April. the month
when freeh-Watcr fishermen begin to
lower their nets after the Winter
storms, came around once more and
Leo kept his word y few of the fish
ermen who had once made comfortable
livings in the business decided to do
little fishing to supply the resort trade,
but when they came around to look
ell. .,,,ft 10
found that go had control of them
all Leo was found after a lengthy
search. but surprised every one when
hs refused to rent any of the tugs or
shanties. So fishing in Empire became
a memory.
1t was turning Autumn and the re-
sorters had all gone back to their
homes when Leo showed up in En-
pire again. He came in on the morn
ing train from Chicago and went di-
rectlv to the state Bank. He was in
the cashiers office for a long time
and when he came out his face was
radiant. Trying to get money to pay
his taxes with suggested some one.
"and he's smiling about it. Fooi''
And that was the consensus. Leo,
still holding onto his fishing business,
had the nerve to ask the bank for
another loan.
But Leo. the impossible fool, was GO
ing in another direction. The day
, after his arrival in town he set about
to hire carpenters and shipWrights,
what there were left OF them after
the general exodus of tradesmen after
the fishing slump. Being out of work
since the departure of the resorters
and being convinced that Leo actu-
ally had funds with which to pay
| them, the motley crew Of workers
started to work Every tug in Em.
| pire was overhauled in the following
months and every fishing shack was
| repaired and painted. Leo Ness
! read the sign on every one of the 10