188 MEN I HAVE FISHED WITH. 



fish was pulled from under the boat, and made several 

 kicks and splashes before it was flopping at our feet, 

 showering water and scales. It was a "red-horse," and 

 would weigh about two pounds, guess-weight. 



"Is that the cause of the spirit-like raps on our boat?" 



"Yes; he was sucking off snails and water worms. 

 Did you never see 'em do it?" 



"No; never heard of such a thing before." 



"Here's another at it now; come over this side and 

 you can see it. Come still, and don't rock the boat or 

 you'll scare it." 



I went and saw about half of the fish extending 

 beyond the boat. It was on its back, and its red fins 

 looked bright against its white belly and straw-colored 

 sides. At every tap on the boat a slight contraction of 

 the body was observed as he sucked his food from the 

 boards. Frank thought he could capture the fish with 

 his hands and tried it, but had to fish his hat from the 

 water instead. "Golly," said he, "that fish was quick. 

 He jumped when I touched him, and slipped through my 

 hand like an eel." After this the drumming of the red- 

 horse was often heard, not only on the boat, but upon 

 logs that were several feet from us. This sucker is the 

 "mullet" or "red mullet" of western New York. It is 

 eatable in cold weather if it is the best you can get. 



Henry threw the fish overboard, saying: "Might as 

 well let it go; we never eat 'em in summer. I only 

 hookeM it for fun and to show you what made the tap- 

 pings on the boat. Don't you have red-horse where 

 you've fished? There! Look over on the bank of the 

 sloo. Keep still, Frank; sh!" 



A queer-looking object was rolling about on the 

 shore in a singular manner. It grew large and then 

 small. Sometimes it was the size of a small cat, and then 



