Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1894 — HARD TUSSLE WITH A FISH. [ARTICLE]

HARD TUSSLE WITH A FISH.

Colo Thought that the Sturgeon Was Dead, but Found Out Otherwise. Manly Cole, of North Wolcott, N. Y., made a remarkable catch near the shore of Lake Ontario late yesterday afternoon, says a correspondent of the Philadelphia Telegraph. In company with Abraham Griswold and two other companions he was walking along the beach from Red Creek to Port Bay, when a large fish was observed floating on its back twenty rods out in the lake. It was thought to be dead, but its large size led Mr. Cole to desire its possession. So, stripping off his clothes, he plunged into the water, thinking to tow the fish to land. As he drew near the fish he noticed about four feet of rope dangling from its gills. He seized the rope and started to tow the monster to shore, but the fish was not nearly so dead as it had seemed, and in an instant shot off in a direct line for the Canadian shore, dragging Mr. Cole after it. Mr. Cole, being a plucky man and a fine swimmer, made up his mind to hang to the rope. A desperate struggle ensued. First the fish had the advantage, then the man. This was kept up for a full hour. Then the fish succumbed and was towed to the beach more dead than alive. Mr. Cole was so exhausted that he was unable to speak. The captive was found to be an Ontario sturgeon weighing seventy-five pounds. It is supposed that it had been caught and anchored by a rope through its gills somewhere up the lake, but had escaped. Such fish are rare on the south shore of Lake Ontario, though common enough in Canadian water*, and this is the first one captured near Port Bay this year. It is probably the first ever captured in this manner anywhere. It was shipped to Newark, N. J., last night, where sturgeon sells at 12 cents per pound.