Fish, Fishing and Fisheries of Pennsylvania. 67 



After their departure the site was occupied by a half breed negro 

 named McKinney, who lived by fishing. He subsequently removed to 

 the upper Laird farm, where he met his death by a fish bone lodging 

 in his throat while eating. One of his daughters married Ben Flem- 

 ing, who was the last survivor of Perry's fleet residing in Pennsylvania. 

 Following him came Moses Muzzy, and then Ben Fleming, both of 

 whom made their living by fishing in the^bay from log canoes. 



At that time the bay of Presque Isle abounded in all varieties of lake 

 fish, particularly the black bass, and all fish were taken with the hook 

 and line prior to 1830. Then followed David Fowzier, who was the 

 first seine fisherman. About this time, 1830 or 31, Thomas Horton, 

 Wm. Buchingham and Abraham Huntsburger, went into drawing the" 

 seine. Ben Fleming adhered to the old method of hook and line fish ■ 

 ing, at which he was remarkably successful, he always claiming that 

 David Fowzier had taught him the secret when he (Fowzier) embarked 

 in seine fishing. At all events he was, and is still known, as one of 

 the most expert and successful fisherman that ever fished in this vicinity. 

 What success he would have now on his old fishing ground, where 

 fish, particularly black bass, once so abundant, now so scarce, can only 

 be conjectured, but it is most likely that he like Othello, would find his 

 occupation gone. 



The ponds in the peninsula, and Pike j)ond on the south side of the 

 bay near the harbor entrance, were the spawning grounds for a large 

 variety of fish. Pike pond was rated for the number and size of the 

 grass pike. They lay upon the bottom, in about two and a-half or three 

 feet of water and were taken by shooting or spearing. Some of these 

 were extraordinarily large fellows. 



But the black bass and lake pike have always been the game fish of 

 the lakes, and trolling in a school of black bass is the finest sport for a 

 tour fisherman that can be conceived. 



Hon. James Hoskinson, of Erie, contributes the following: "In early 

 days the abundance of fish in the bay and lake was beyond comprehen- 

 sion. About 1826 or 1827, when a boy about fifteen, I went fishing 

 with David Fowzier in his log canoe. We crossed to Big Bend on 

 the peninsula, and had just got ready to begin fishing when it came 

 on to blow heavy down the lake, we were forced to land and was 

 storm-stayed on the peninsula for three days. We got out of provisions 

 and the last day I was the hungriest, most unhappy lad ever known. 

 I wanted to get home, and I wanted something to eat, but I could not 

 keep still and I wandered off into the woods to hide my feeling from 

 Fowzier. I had gone I suppose two or three miles from the bend when 

 I came across old Mr. Slocum, who was on the peninsula trapping. It 

 was then the middle of the afternoon. He asked me where I came from 

 and I told him, and who my parents were. He knew them well. He 

 asked me if I had eaten my dinner, I told him no, I had eaten nothing 



