July, 1919 
FOREST AND STREAM 
341 
’em below but not general,” he added. 
“Notice anything ’bout a catfish when 
you bring it to the top of the water dif- 
ferent from most others?” he asked. As 
he strung the fish on a stout string with 
a cross stick at the end so as to retain 
the catch the man said he knew of no 
peculiarity in that respect. “Well, keep 
your eye on the next one, an’ every one, 
an’ you’ll see they alius come to the top 
belly up an’ fight at the top that way, 
if they get a chance an’ are not hossed 
right out like some do with ’em.” 
“Say,” he continued, “some men fish 
here with regular bean poles an’ slat ’em 
out.” Mr. Woodhull took three more on 
his pork bait before the boy got a bite, 
although none as large as the first one, 
which set up a queery with the lad. 
“Wonder if it’s ’cause the water’s thick 
an’ the pork shows white an’ they see 
it better?” he asked. “Shouldn’t be 
s’prised, but ’nen what do they do 
when the’s no pork nor anythin’ 
white feat, have to get it some- 
how. Guess again. Matt,” he said 
as if to himself and then became 
thoughtful. He sat quite a while 
in deep thought then began: “I’d 
fish a lot nights on’y aunt Mary 
aint willin’ I should, says I might 
get into some hole, or place, or 
somethin’ happen. Catties bite 
a’most as well nights as day time, 
so do eels — better some times. I 
was thinkin’,” he continued, “ ’bout 
when I could get some money and 
buy a lot of hooks an’ a big line. 
I could rig up a set line for the 
pools an’ here. Set ’em over night 
’nen take ’em up first thing in 
the mornin’. Bet I could get a lot 
an’ when I skin ’em they sell good. 
Might help aunt Mary some. Say, 
I don’t see no fun in it. I’d sooner 
take one on a pole than a string 
that way. An’ say,” he added sud- 
denly, “how do you skin a catty?” 
His friend admitted he was not 
good at it, in fact the people where 
he boarded did that and were glad 
to have the fish. “Why,” said the 
boy “it’s just as easy,” with a 
strong emphasis on the last word. 
“I’ll show you if I get one at my 
hook.” 
Throwing out a fair sized one, 
he at once severed the spinal col- 
umn as described, with the point of 
his knife, which at once rendered it 
helpless, and finding a piece of board, 
laid the fish on it. Putting his left 
hand on the head he said : “Now look, 
see, I start in behind the fin on the 
back, cut clean through, ’nen come on 
clean up to the place where I cut his 
backbone, ’nen go right down with the 
knife to the skin on his throat, ’nen 
hold the knife there solid an’ pull hard. 
See, on the head, an’ off comes the 
skin an’ his insides come out at the 
same time. It’s easy. Gee. but a catty 
looks skimpy when his head an’ jacket’s 
off. Aunt Mary’s got a way of cookin’ 
fish what is good as ever. When they’re 
cleaned she puts them in salt and water, 
sometimes over night and then takes ’em 
out and wipes ’em dry and puts some fat 
in the fryer and lets it get good an’ hot 
some crumbs on. Sometimes she sprinkles 
crackers rolled fine an’ when eggs are 
plenty she put an egg over ’em. Gee, but 
I most taste ’em now.” 
0 
^URING the afternoon a buggy wagon 
drew into the mill yard and a man, 
after going into the mill, came down 
to where the two were fishing, carrying 
a cloth case and a package and began 
talking to Mr. Woodhull. He was very 
agreeable in manner and after seeing the 
fish, which were on hand, asked if there 
was any objection on their part about his 
fishing near them. 
He said the miller had told him he was 
welcome to fish where he wished but did 
not want to intrude near them if they 
felt he should not do so. Both were glad 
to have a companion, particularly as he 
promised by his manner to be most so- 
ciable. He produced from its cover a 
’Nen she puts the fish in, after putting 
Digging the old reliable bait, tested 
many generations 
jointed bamboo rod which, from its ap- 
pearance, had seen much use, though still 
in perfect order. A free running reel 
of medium size and good make was the 
next produced. 
This was a revelation to Matt who had 
seen nothing but the click reel as used by 
an occasional trout fisherman he had met. 
As he watched the first casts made and 
noticed how easy it seemed for the 
stranger to place his tackle just where 
he desired, his wonder knew no bounds. 
Matt found a comfortable seat for him 
and they soon were friends. The boy 
eagerly asking questions which were 
readily answered. 
Mr. Woodhull was an equally inter- 
ested party. The man had purchased a 
property near by and heard of the fish- 
ing in the chain of ponds and creek 
running from them and had taken this 
by boys of 
opportunity to give it a trial. He was 
very glad to meet some one who knew 
the different points and the kinds of 
fish to be taken. 
He had travelled extensively and had 
caught fish in most of the states, particu- 
larly the middle and southern ones, and 
was fairly well acquainted with many 
salt water varieties. 
The simple, earnest nature of the lad 
charmed him, and the delicate appear- 
ance of Mr. Woodhull drew forth his 
sympathy, but he carefully refrained 
from comment. Matt was waiting eager- 
ly to see a fish take the stranger’s hook. 
He was anxious to see how, with that 
comparatively short rod and long line 
out, a fish might be hooked, as he had 
cast to the farther side of the basin near 
a patch of lily pads growing near the 
opposite bank. 
S OON the painted top float went 
down and the man, as the quick 
eye of the lad noted, reeled in 
until the line came fairly taut, 
then struck firmly but not hard 
and the bending pliant rod gave 
mute testimony that a fish was 
hooked. 
The long line gave the fish full 
play and it ran the entire length 
of the basin, then doubled and 
back, all the time being worked 
nearer by the shortening line, until 
it was drawn to the bank, then 
lifted out and laid on the grass. 
It was a nice exhibition of the fish- 
erman’s skill and the boy was med- 
itative. He was quick to offer ad- 
vice as to the safe method of un- 
hooking the fish, but noticed with 
pride that his method was well 
known to their friend. 
“Catfish,” he began, as he ran 
out his long cast again, “are among 
the most interesting of our com- 
mon fishes. 
“The family is a large one and 
where any are found they are 
usually plentiful, as they multiply 
rapidly. They will eat almost any 
kind of meat as well as bits of fish. 
“In running streams where the 
water is clear they take the min- 
now readily and are harder fight- 
ers. In such waters they are 
usually white on the under side. 
They usually have more pointed 
heads but,” he added, “I have taken 
both kinds in muddy waters and I think, 
as do most people, that there are two 
distinct kinds of the common catfish. 
“They, too, have the peculiar habit of 
carrying in their mouths and gill open- 
ings their eggs just before they hatch 
out, and the mother fish may be seen 
with the little wrigglers all about her 
head, looking like a small cloud in the 
water.” 
“Gee,” said the now thoroughly inter- 
ested boy, “I thought they somehow set 
on ’em like a hen.” The man laughed at 
this whimsical turn and continued: “I 
have seen them very large in the Mis- 
sissippi river down below where the 
Ohio empties into it, much over one hun- 
dred pounds in weight.” Matt straight- 
ened up and looked at Mr. Woodhull as 
(continued on page 378 ) 
