206 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



The rig used for this work was an eight-ounce Goodridge 

 combination rod, a "G" linen line, to a common multiplying 

 reel, and a number eight Skinner spoon. The line was a new 

 one, but it was so frayed when we quit work that it was 

 taken off and is still in my tackle box, kept as a memento 

 of one of the grandest pieces of sport I ever enjoyed. 



On the fifth of August, 1887, Mr. L. Thomas came to me 

 and said, "Don't you want to go out and catch a 'Lunge," and 

 I said that was just what I did want, and we were soon on 

 the water with his son Louis as the third member of the 

 party. It was about four p. m. when we threw out our lines. 

 Mr. Thomas had a hand-line, a number 4 Hill gold bait, 

 a double gang of hooks number 8, and a large chub min- 

 now hooked to the upper gang. I had my old rod, a small 

 line, a double Skinner spoon, one number 7, the other num- 

 ber 8, with a double gang of number 8 hooks and a large chub 

 on upper gang. 



We had proceeded but a short distance when Mr. Thomas 

 had a strike, and after the usual course of maneuvering we 

 took his victim in, started on again and soon it came my turn. 

 I had a lusty strike, and after playing after my fish some 

 time and the weeds being thick we went ashore and slid him 

 out on the stones very nicely. Mr. Thomas now changed 

 with his son and took the oars. In a short time Louis had 

 a strike, and as his fish proved to be a large one we went ashore 

 again, at the same place, and landed this specimen without 

 trouble. This last one weighed thirty-eight pounds, and his 

 stuffed skin is now on exhibition in the city ticket office of the 

 M. L. S. & W. Ry. at Chicago. We started again and 

 soon I got another large one, but he got into the weeds, in 

 spite of all I could do, and I lost him. 



We then started for home, and just before we got to the 

 rushes, Mr. Thomas, who had the line again, had a heavy 

 strike but he missed. He said to his son, "Turn right 

 around; we'll go over that ground again and get that fellow 



