Tragic Fishing Moments 



Madame' s hook and one on mine, hooking them 

 lightly through the lips. We committed their bodies 

 to the deep, the guide got the boat under way, and 

 the Madame and I began trolling for bass. 



I had watched closely the operation of baiting, but 

 had been unable to determine from the minnow's faces 

 whether they had experienced pain, for their expres- 

 sion had not changed at all. While meditating on this 

 subject I had a strike, and an instant later a bass broke 

 beautifully. The Madame was wildly excited it was 

 her first fishing trip and broke into a sort of an- 

 them. " Don't lose him ! " she chanted, with appro- 

 priate gestures. " Don't lose him. Whatever you do, 

 don't lose him ! " Her chant was soothing, the fish 

 was hooked hard, and a few minutes later we netted it. 



Presently the Madame had a strike, and up shot a 

 mighty bass with her hook fast in its jaw. I proffered 

 advice and admonition, and even offered to take the 

 rod if she felt herself unequal to the task before her, 

 but my attentions were misinterpreted. The hereto- 

 fore gentle Madame turned on me and announced that 

 this was her first bass, that she proposed to catch it 

 herself, and that any interference would be construed 

 as an unfriendly act. Well, we hadn't been married 

 very long, and I didn't volunteer more advice ; though 

 when the big fish lay gasping in the boat, I did ven- 

 ture to say that I would rather die than catch a bass 

 by such unscientific methods. But this remark I would 



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