Tholling. 435 



is tough, white and glistening, and is a good substitute; ai 

 similar strip, cut from the belly or side of a fish, also 

 answers a good purpose. One or two swivels should 

 always be used with troUing-baits ; a sinker is seldom 

 necessary. 



With this simple outfit, early in the season, before the 

 aquatic weeds and grasses are fully grown, this mode of 

 fishing is quite successful. The method of procedure is 

 as follows: 



The angler sits in the stern of the boat, and, while the 

 oarsman rows at a moderate rate of speed along and over 

 the feeding-ground, he runs off forty to sixty yards of 

 line ; the spoon revolving gracefully beneath the surface 

 proves an effective lure. A violent jerk on the line an- 

 nounces the fact that an unfortunate bass has " hooked 

 himself;" often he will leap into the air, vainly endeavor- 

 ing to shake the glittering deception from his jaws, but 

 his efforts, usually serve to fix the several hooks more firmly 

 in his mouth, and provided he does not crush them or tear 

 them out and escape, he is " hauled in," hand over hand, 

 by muscle and main strength, without a single chance for 

 his life — dragged to an ignoble death by a hand-line and 

 spoon. 



Many years ago I was attracted to Gogebic Lake and 

 Eagle Waters in northern Wisconsin to investigate the so- 

 called " razor back " black bass of Gogebic, which was said 

 to be a new species, and the mascalonge of Eagle Waters. 

 I found the former to be only small-mouth bass infected 

 with tape worm, and the latter to be a true mascalonge. 



At that time Gogebic Lake was somewhat famous on ac- 

 count of its great numbers of black bass, and the ease with 

 which they could be caught. While there I witnessed 

 scenes and heard of acts that should bring the blush of 



