ii4 



RECREA TION. 



early, getting ready for the capture of mus- 

 kalonge (Esox nobilor), giving no thought 

 as to how its name should be spelled or 

 even pronounced. 



As the Hibernian put it, " Our first catch 

 was a miss." Ed. soon had a strike, and 

 commenced to play the fish, but Esox had 

 no intention of being gaffed. After show- 

 ing us his size, by sundry leaps out of the 

 water, the fish parted the line. 



Shortly after, a 4-pounder was hooked 

 and safely landed, so we had at least a taste 

 of fish for breakfast, even if we grumbled 

 all day at the luck that lost us the big one. 



A spurt with the paddle, a sudden "buck- 

 ing " by the fish, and another yard of the 

 line was brought in. This was repeated 

 many times before I reached the edge of 

 the weeds, where my quarry took a deep 

 plunge, to free himself from the hook; but 

 it was no use. With much anxiety and a 

 greater pride, he was finally brought along- 

 side, and the landing net placed under him; 

 then into the canoe he was flopped. 



Ed. had repeated my experience in all 

 its details. As we compared yarns, with 

 the 2 specimens before us, there was a de- 

 cision of an inch or so in his favor. They 



AMATEUR PHOTO BY JOHN BOYD. 



" MUSKALONGE AND THE IMPLEMENTS OF HIS TAKING OFF." 



Toward evening we added 2 more to our 

 count, and might have done better had we 

 desired; but our intentions were to only 

 keep the camp supplied, with perhaps an 

 occasional one to a city friend. 



The time between our fishing trips was 

 interspersed with tramps through the 

 woods, after huckleberries; in studying 

 the ornithology of the vicinity; and in 

 enjoying nature. 



Coming back from one of these rambles, 

 which was by water part of the way, I 

 threw a line astern of the canoe, and held 

 the end between my teeth, having little 

 thought of what might take the spinning 

 spoon. Soon a jerk that threatened the 

 safety of my teeth, and a plunge, told of a 

 hooked fish. The strain on the line, as I 

 took it in my hands and worked in a few 

 feet, made it manifest that he was a fair- 

 sized one. 



were indeed rare fish, weighing 10 and 12 

 pounds, respectively. 



The pickerel (Slizostcdium vitreuin) is 

 usually given a second place in piscatorial 

 lore; but as a food fish he is placed by 

 many next to the trout. They are numer- 

 ous in these waters, and there was no diffi- 

 culty in securing as many as we desired. 

 They gave us good sport, and we often 

 caught them long after dark, when we 

 could not see the ends of our rods. 



Sparrow lake is as much noted for its 

 black bass as for its muskalonge. Almost 

 every day we had for company some mem- 

 bers of the Iron City Camping Club, of 

 Pittsburgh, as well as several Indians from 

 the Rama reservation. 



In fishing we used live frogs, worms and 

 spoon baits. It was always well to have a 

 supply of each on hand, for the taste of the 

 fish varied from day to day. 



