Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1896 — Fishing for a Man. [ARTICLE]

Fishing for a Man.

A novel contest took place some time ago at the Edinburgh Corporation Baths between one of the strongest swimmers in Scotland and a wellknown angler. The rail Mail Gazette, which reports the affair, describes it as occurring in a pool eighty ffeet long and forty feet wide. The angler was furnished with an eleven-foot trolling line-and anundressed silk line. The line was fixed to a girth belt—made expressly for the purpose—by a swivel immediately between the shoulders of the sw’immer, at the point where hd had greatest pulling power. In the first trial the line snapped. Jn the second the angler gave and played without altogether slacking line, and several porpoise dives were well handled. The swimnier then’tried crossswimming, from corner to corner, but ultimately was beaten, the match ending with a victory for the rod and line. Another contest took pface, in which the angler employed a very light Dunheld trending rod, ten feet long and weighing only six and one-half ounces, the line being the same as that ttsed with the trolling-rod. The swimmer, whose aim evidently was to smash the rod, pulled and leaped in the water. He was held steadily, however, and in about five miuutes was forced to give in; the rod was again successful. At the finish both competitors were almost exhausted.