_ That mighty blow ended the fiercest 
fight in our twenty years of ’coon-hunt- 
ing experience. Poor old Bibby was al- 
most a wreck; her ears were split to 
ribbons, her nose chewed, one eye torn, 
and her front legs were cut in many 
places, but she was game until the last 
minute. 
When we returned to the cabin the 
‘eoon measured thirty-seven inches 
from the point of his nose to the tip 
of his tail, and weighed twenty-one 
pounds with scarcely an ounce of fat 
on his body. He had one front foot off, 
that being the reason he would not 
usually tree when the dogs were chas- 
ing him; this time Bibby was so close 
he had to tree to save himself. When 
we skinned that ’coon we could not find 
a place on his body that was not chewed 
into a jelly. Just imagine what the 
poor dog had to contend with. She was 
so stiff and sore that she could hardly 
walk for a week. 
Fortunately for the dog, but not so 
for us, our hunt was over, after ten 
glorious nights We had to go back to 
work and the old routine of business, 
and how drab the future appeared. With 
great satisfaction we look back on our 
success of a total catch of thirty-seven 
’coon, forty-two opossum, and two mink. 
The sale of the skins brought us a neat 
sum; the experience and joy of that 
hunt was priceless. The outdoor life 
in the woods made our cheeks glow, the 
exercise strengthened our muscles, and, 
most of all, there was forever inscribed 
in our minds the thrilling memories of 
one of our most enjoyable and most suc- 
cessful hunting trips, 
The Leopard of the Lake 
(Continued from page 407) 
from a boat’s bottom carry far in quiet 
waters, and there is where pickerel are 
to be found. The true sportsman takes 
with him but one rod. If fish are there 
waiting for him, he will at least get all 
he needs. If there are no fish, how 
many can he get with any number of 
rods? You are dealing with a finnicky 
fish: and it is well to have a number 
of kinds of baits with you. 
IVE minnows are good and gener- 
ally successful but the ways of His 
Majesty sometimes are past fathoming. 
A couple of live mice in a little box is 
easily carried and sometimes proves 
efficacious when all else fails. The 
Sharp-pointed Carlisle hooks about 4-0 
in size are admirable and, if rightly 
handled, will lead the largest of pick- 
erel to the landing net, which should 
always be taken, as the mouth of the 
Pickerel is very tender and liable to cut 
Out. The snells on all hooks used for 
4 In writing to advertisers mention Forest and Streuim, 
a 
this work should be wound about with 
hair wire which can be had for a few 
cents and found at most hardware 
stores. It saves the gut from being 
chafed by the needle-like teeth of the 
fish. The wire of the Carlisle is quite 
light and so is very desirable when live 
bait is used as it does not cause so big 
a wound as most other varieties. If you 
use your live mouse, a little tact will en- 
able you to get the sharp-pointed hook 
through the skin on his neck, only deep 
enough, however, to hold well. Cruel? 
Well, maybe so, and it may be believed 
that mice at other games have enjoyed 
themselves more. Still, our mouse is 
amiable, and quite willing to make a 
slight return for the cheese and other 
things which we have furnished myriads 
of his forbears, so we will dismiss the 
thought. You will use neither sinker 
or float with him but cast him out very, 
very gently and with the light line you 
are using he will swim along nicely, 
provided you give him perfect slack. 
He is trying to reach that lily pad but 
a short distance away and crawl out 
where it is less damp, and as you watch, 
you notice the leaf rock violently, and 
the water about is disturbed. There, 
your mouse has gone under. Do not 
strike, his swimming did not send the 
wavelets against the lily pad. See, your 
line is now beginning to run out, block 
your reel and tighten the line, so; 
w-h-i-r-r, ah ha, your reel sings the old | 
song. It was a pickerel took your 
mouse and he is now running way out 
yonder, as much surprised now as the 
mouse was when he went under. 
Steady, don’t hurry, he is running 
broadside to your boat and watching 
everything. Just keep your line taut, 
the spring of ‘your split bamboo will 
weaken him down fast. All right, let 
him go all the way around the boat. 
Put a little strain on him now, that 
will keep him from the lily pads. Don’t 
let the rod get over your shoulder, 
you’re old enough to know better. Face 
your fish all the time. He’s coming to- 
ward you now, weakening some. Don’t 
put your net down yet, there’s fight in 
him. Let him have another round. 
There now, reel in so your rod tip 
touches the water. Lower your net 
about a foot under the water; now, 
raise your tip. That’s it. Ah, good, 
about four pounds of pure grit and 
white flaky meat. Too good a prize for 
any but fishermen and honest men. 
os course, you’ll fish on awhile. 
There are about six feet of water; 
well, set your float so the minnow will 
be three feet down and use a light 
sinker. 
and tough muscles under the fin on its 
back. That is better than through the 
lips, as the pickerel always gorges a 
live fish head first, 


Put your hook through the skin | 
it is less likely to | 
feel the prick of the hook than when | 




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