Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1895 — ARTESIAN WELL FISHING. [ARTICLE]

ARTESIAN WELL FISHING.

Curious Specimens Caught on a Hook in Indiana. Thomas Mould and Editor E. L. Roys are the heroes of a fishing story beside which the stories of ordinary fishermen sink into insignificance. Both are known as ardent devotees of Izaak Walton, and whenever their business permits they are usually found in pursuit of the gamey black bass or the voracious pickerel. On Saturday they visited Glenmere together. The fish were not biting with any enthusiasm, and about 4 o’clock they started for home. At Howell’s condensery they stopped to talk with some workmen who were repairing the pump at the artesian well. It will be remembered by readers of this paper that at the time this well was sunk an account was given of the striking of a subterranean stream at a depth of 800 feet, the volume of which could not be ascertained except that soundings showed it to be of considerable depth. The stream and its probable aize were the subjects of discussion among the little group at the well.

I and sombody wondered if it contained any fish. A bright idea occurred to Messrs. I Mould and Roys. Each had in his I basket a long trolling line, and by I'iuJfiting them a line long enough to j reach easily to the bottom of the well was formed. Amid the good natured “jollying” of the bystanders I the lines were rigged and a hook at- ! tached. It was baited with a big “night walker” fishworm and lowI ered 298 feet through the six-inch I hole. The distance had been care- ■ fully measured off on the line, to I which a heavy sinker had been at- ' tached, and the hook fastened a short I distance above to a stout piece of line, Everybody laughed except Mr. Roys as Mr. Mould carefully lowered 'the line and waited anxiously for the little tug at the bait which brings joy to the heart of the fisherman. After a few minutes the expression ; on Tom’s face became one of rapt at--1 tention. “I believe I’ve got a bite,” ihe said. A moment later he began ■ to pull in the line rapidly hand over hand. “I’ve got something,” he said, and as everybody began to gather about the well he drew out a fish. It was about half a pound in weight and of the eyeless species which are sometimes found in the waters of caverns. The fish was nearly a foot long, shaped something like a perch, and its struggles as it lay upon the ground showed that it was game to the backbone. Unlike fish which dwell in waters on the earth's surface and which have dark backs and light colored or white bellies, this fish was a uniform color of light gray. It had very small scales, and where the eyes might be expected to exist there were slight indentations as of rudimentary eyes. When the excitement attending the capture had died away the hook was baited again and the line lowered. Editor Roys took charge this time, and, after waiting for about ten minutes, lie drew to the surface another of the fish, a trifle larger than the first one. Five fish were caught altogether, the largest of which weighed a plumb pound and a half. One fish was brought part of the way to the top, but loosened itself from the hook and escaped. •’ who had hold of the line at the time, says it was the largest by far of any that fastened themselves on the hook, and he’s positive that the reason he was unable to land his fish was that it was too big to pass through the well, which is only six inches in diameter. The singular appearance of these fish and the remarkable manner in which they were captured made them objects of curiosity to the persons to whom they were shown. Reference to the encyclopedia show that these fi*h are remarkable, aside from their appearance, in that they are viviparous, bringing forth their young alive and not depositing eggs, after the manner of most other fish. They have rudiments of eyes, but no optic nerve, and are, therefore, incapable of being affected by the most intense light. Those who tasted them say they are of excellent flavor, but rather too plentifully supplied with bones. —Goshen (Ind.) Republican.