1-J2 



T/ie A)nerica)i A)i<rler 



have been recorded for many years, of 

 the bass, the mascalonge and the pick- 

 erel taken from the inviting pools. 



For many years the pleasantly located 

 village of Waterville has been the ren- 

 dezvous of anglers, who have spent 

 many weeks among the friendly inhab- 

 itants and taken from the rapids large 

 strings of bass. The village is sur- 

 rounded with trees ; they have become 

 thinned in numbers, but have broadened 

 in shape, each throwing its arms out- 

 ward as though seeking always for that 

 touch of companionship lost many years 

 ago. 



In almost every river town there is to 

 be found one man to whom the citizens 

 refer with some pride as being the fish- 

 erman, the person familiar with the 

 fishing grounds, the kind of bait adapted 

 for the season and day, and in fact 

 everything connected with fish and fish- 

 ing. Waterville has a representative of 

 a true angler in the person of Doctor 

 Swandown. 



An afternoon in August, 1894, the 

 doctor was sitting on his porch reading 

 a newspapei-, when a young man entered 

 the yard and spoke as follows : 



" Have I the pleasure of addressing 

 Doctor Swandown ?" 



" That is my name ; what can I do for 

 you ?" said the doctor, kindly, and the 

 stranger approached nearer. 



" I have been referred to you as being 

 the person of whom I could get some 

 information about bass fishing on the 

 rapids," and the stranger then intro- 

 duced himself as Harry Vinton, of De- 

 troit. 



Mr. Vinton was invited to be seated, 

 and after a few remarks on general sub- 

 jects, the doctor drifted into the impor- 

 tant subject of fishing. 



"Well, sir, I am glad to welcome you 

 to our village ; as to fishing, sometimes 

 it is very good ; in fact, we have days 



when the catches are so great that we 

 wonder where the bass come from in 

 such large quantities, and such big fel- 

 lows ; then again for some reason they 

 refuse to take any kind of bait. With 

 this present fine weather and these fa- 

 vorable winds, I do not see but what 

 you will have some very nice sport, and 

 can spend a few days very pleasantly 

 and profitably. I was just reading a 

 marked copy of our city daily, which 

 refers to some great catches made by 

 Captain Brown ; he claims to have 

 caught forty fine bass the other after- 

 noon. It says he is an expert fly caster. 

 What I have to say about his fishing, 

 and his lawyer companions, is not with 

 a desire to boast, but as a matter of fact 

 I have caught and presented to many 

 Detroit and Toledo anglers some very 

 fine strings of bass, which the press^ 

 with some pride, credited to the skill of 

 these pleasant gentlemen. I seldom use 

 any other bait but what is native to the 

 stream. At times the bass refuse every- 

 thing, then again a common angle worm 

 will suit their taste ; then a craw-fish 

 they relish, and occasionally a frog, but 

 as a general rule I find the plump chub- 

 minnow, which I catch on the rapids, is 

 about as safe a bait for general all 

 around use in these waters." 



The conversation drifted upon vari- 

 ous subjects until they became very 

 well acquainted. 



Harry Vinton was of medium height, 

 round, full face, black hair, and eyes 

 that bespoke the sentiments of an hon- 

 est heart. His general demeanor indi- 

 cated that he had the necessary staying 

 qualities of a true angler, earnest, pa- 

 tient and good natured. The doctor 

 prided himself as being " quick in sizing^ 

 up a man," and declared that Mr. Vin- 

 ton had every indication that he was 

 unselfish, and believed that one of the 

 highest possible blessings that come to 



