Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1901 — LIVE-WIRE FISHING. [ARTICLE]

LIVE-WIRE FISHING.

Cvery Wish That Gate Within Tan Feet of the Net I* Caught. It is “positively shocking” the way they are catching fish at the plant of the St Anthony Falls Water Power Company. This, too, in face of a large sign on which is inscribed in plain letters: “No Fishing Allowed; Keep Off.” But, then, only the immedate attaches of the power house are privileged. The electricians have become oo used to working wonders by electricity—such a miradle, for instance, as running the street railways of two cities without scflvceiy having to turn a hand themselves—that they are in the habit of calling the mysterious fluid to their assistance whenever it is convenient to do so. They started out .early in the season, which did not open until Wednesday, to fish in the legitimate way, but falling to get any fish to speak of by hook, they determined to catch them, if possible, by crook—to electrocute them. Since then fish have responded with such wonderful alacrity to the novel bait that a few minutes’ sport will give the new fisherman “a nice mess.” The sight would bring tears to the e/es of Ike Walton, who believed "art for art’s sake,” who accounted it a more creditable performance to catch one fish an hour by patient, painstaking, philosophic endeavor, than to slaughter the finny tribe on the wholesale plan in short order. At the power house they take a good live wire, properly Insulated, where the angler holds it, and stick the same into the water. Water is a good conductor, as everybody knows, and every time a fish comes within ten or twelve feet of the centre of disturbance he is conducted to the surface. He is hot dead—he is simply shocked into insensibility by his sensational reception, and if left to his own resources would soon be himself again. But the cruel man on the ledge of masonry which juts oqt into the river around the power house, through which the tall race comes pouring,. reaches deftly into the water and scoops up the unfortunate fish with a net Perch, shiners, bullheads, crappies and an occasional sturgeon are caught in this way. One of the electricians who was directing the mighty machinery which generates 10,000 horse power, said that he had caught a sturgeon early in the spring which weighed twenty pounds. He said that an ordinary current of electricity was strong enough to bring the most obstreperous fish to the surface in most cases. He had to hand the sturgeon considerably more than the average before he could make him “lie still and be quiet” Sometimes a simple Iron plate with electrical connections Is used. It la hung over the side of the wall Into the river, and does the work as effectually as the wire apparatus. The law does not specifically forbid electric fishing, but Game Warden Fullerton is going to see if the house sport can’t be stopped. Minneapolis Journal