NOT INTENDED TO DECEIVE. 



The late Elphonzo Young an accomplished sports- 

 man, related for the edification of the boys this 

 interesting narrative: 



It is a habit with some thoughtless persons to cast 

 slurs upon fish, and to ridicule fishermen and fish 

 stories, and some even go so far as to question the 

 veracity and truthfulness of fish stories in general.. 

 Having this in mind, I have always made a point of 

 adhering strictly to the truth in speaking of fish. 



Some hold that it is cruel to catch a fish upon a 

 hook, and assert that to hook a fish in the mouth 

 gives the fish great pain, but I am convinced that the 

 average fish does not suffer as much from being 

 hooked and drawn out of the water as it does in 

 thinking of the lies that will be told about its size 

 and weight after it is dead. 



Fish as a general thing are affectionate, and I 

 mention an incident that came under my personal 

 observation that proves to me that they are grate- 

 ful and appreciate kind treatment. 



A gentleman in New York State had a large and 

 well-stocked trout pond, and his little daughter, six 

 years old, took great pleasure in feeding the fish. 

 She went regularly every day and threw the food into 

 the pond, scattering it on the surface of the water, 

 and took great delight in seeing the fish jump after 

 it., sometimes they leaped entirely out of the water, 

 and the little girl would clap her hands and shout 

 in childish glee. The fish got to know her, and when 

 she ran along the bank and called them, they came 

 to the edge of the water in great numbers, and 



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