FISHING IN THE OHIO. 123 



tivate a garden, the rankness of the soil kept the seeds we planted far 

 beneath the tall weeds that sprung up the first year. I had then a part- 

 ner, a " man of business," and there was also with me a Kentucky youth, 

 who much preferred the sports of the forest and river to either day-book 

 or ledger. He was naturally, as I may say, a good woodsman, hunter, 

 and angler, and, like me, thought chiefly of procuring supplies of fish 

 and fowl. To the task accordingly we directed all our energies. 



Quantity as well as quality was an object with us, and although we 

 well knew that three species of Cat-fish existed in the Ohio, and that all 

 were sufficiently good, we were not sure as to the best method of securing 

 them. We determined, however, to work on a large scale, and imme- 

 diately commenced making a famous " trot-line." Now, reader, as you may 

 probably know nothing about this engine, I shall describe it to you. 



A trot-line is one of considerable length and thickness, both qualities, 

 however, varying according to the extent of water, and the size of the 

 fish you expect to catch. As the Ohio, at Henderson, is rather more 

 than half a mile in breadth, and as Cat-fishes weigh from one to an hun- 

 dred pounds, we manufactured a line which measured about two hundred 

 yards in length, as thick as the little finger of some fair one yet in her 

 teens, and as white as the damsel's finger well could be, for it was wholly 

 of Kentucky cotton, just, let me tell you, because that substance stands 

 the water better than either hemp or flax. The main line finished, we 

 made a hundred smaller ones, about five feet in length, to eaoh of which 

 we fastened a capital hook of Kikby" and Cc's manufacture. Now for 

 the bait ! 



It was the month of May. Nature had brought abroad myriads of 

 living beings : they covered the earth, glided through the water, and 

 swarmed in the air. The Cat-fish is a voracious creature, not at all nice 

 in feeding, but one who, like the vulture, contents himself with carrion 

 when nothing better can be had. A few experiments proved to us that, 

 of the dainties with which we tried to allure them to our hooks, they gave 

 a decided preference, at that season, to live toads. These animals were 

 very abundant about Henderson. They ramble or feed, whether by in- 

 stinct or reason, during early or late twilight more than at any other time, 

 especially after a shower, and are unable to bear the heat of the sun's rays 

 for several hours before and after noon. We have a good number of 

 these crawling things in America, particularly in the western and southern 

 parts of the Union, and are very well supplied with frogs, snakes, lizards, 



