Fish and Fishing 



lively few bones. Some writers consider it the 

 most unattractive fish of our fresh waters, and to 

 catch it represents the lowest depths of depravity 

 in fishing with hook and line. 



The catfish is a ready and voracious feeder, 

 any kind of bait being greedily swallowed, and 

 a large fish, when it feels the hook, goes for some 

 distance at astonishing speed, pulling and tugging 

 with bull-like strength. In angling for them, the 

 worm is the most convenient bait. They will 

 take minnows, grasshoppers, small frogs, a piece 

 of salt mackerel or salt pork, as well as pieces of 

 fresh fish cut from the under part of chub, perch, 

 or sunfish; as the catfish always gorges the bait, 

 the hook is easier to extract if it is a good size. 



No. 5 or 6 Limerick hooks will do. Use a light 



ten-foot rod of native cane, with a line of twisted 



silk tied to the tip of the same length as the rod. 



No reel is required. A three-foot leader, 



like the one used for perch, makes the 



line stand up in the water, and a float is also an 



advantage; it keeps the line from floating toward 



the angler, and is easier to cast among the weeds. 



Two hooks can be tied, one touching the bottom, 



baited with dead fish or pork; the other, six 



inches above, on which is placed a worm; they 



soon go for the bait, if the fish are plentiful, and the 



float ffoes under surface. The fish is sure 



Capture ^^ '^^ ^^^*' ^^^ there is no need to hurry; 



when it is pulled ashore or in the boat, 



take care how it is handled, as the horns on its fins 



make nasty wounds. The hook will be far down 



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