BARTERING WITH A JEWFISH. 



• 



Mr. J.Walter Thompson, of New York, told an incident to illustrate the 

 fact, that fish, like men, have their strong personal traits. He said : " Down 

 in the South the jewfish is not considered worthy of special note or atten- 

 tion as a game fish, but on account of his size he sometimes furnishes much 

 excitement for fishermen. The jewfish occasionally attains a weight of 

 over five hundred pounds, and as it has great strength, will frequently 

 break a hook large enough to capture a shark. The jewfish has some- 

 times been called a giant perch, but I should prefer to translate his name 

 literally, and call him an aquatic Hebrew, on account of an occurrence 

 which gave evidence, to my mind, of the ability of the fish as a financier- 



I had visited Florida to indulge in tarpon 

 fishing, and had bought the most expensive and 

 elaborate outfit obtainable. One quiet day, while 

 resting at ease in my steam yacht, I determined 

 to make a few casts from the boat, more for 

 practice than from any expectation of securing a 

 tarpon at this time, as it was not a favorable 

 locality for fishing. On making the second cast a monster jewfish took 

 the bait, and would have taken the line, rod, reel and all thereunto belong- 

 ing, if I had not succeeded in making a compromise. I knew that I could 

 not fight successfully against the giant strength of the jewfish, and by a 

 series of peculiar movements with his pectoral fins the fish conveyed to 

 me, in language almost as intelligible as words to one familiar with the 

 gestures of clothing dealers on Chatham street, that he would deliver, the 

 goods for a proper consideration. 



I was not in a mood to barter with the aquatic Hebrew, but under the 

 necessity of the moment concluded it advisable to make a deal. Knowing 

 the intense love of gold on the part of both the land and water species, I 

 asked my assistant to hold up to the jewfish a glass aquarium filled with 

 handsome goldfish. I held up my left hand with three fingers extended, 

 to indicate that I would give three goldfish to recover my line and tackle. 

 The jewfish shrugged his shoulders and shook his head savagely by way 

 of refusal, and I immediately raised my bid to five, which was also 

 refused. I was finally obliged to give that jewfish the whole job lot of gokl- 

 fish to obtain my tackle again, although I always considered it an unfair 

 advantage unworthy of any except a salt-water Shylock, and I have never 

 associated with jewfish from that day to this. 



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