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. . I , SPEAR FISH THROUGH ICE Deceptive Angles to an Odd Species of Winter Sport. Mneh of Such Fishing Profitable and In Done by Companies. . Successful spearing of fish in deep water is the finest art in the sportsmans world and few people ever master it. Unless one can stand directly over the fish and strike it a perpendicular blow in the back, not one throw, in ten thousand will be suc- cessful, writes C. O. Ormsbee in Country Gentleman. There are two reasons for this large percentage of failures, either of which is amply sufficient: One is due to the alertness and agility of the fish and its ability to dodge the weapon, and the other is owing to the fact that, on account of the refraction of the water, the fish is not where it seems to be, and the sportsman aims at the shadow in- stead of the substance. Almost invariably the ama-1 teur will grasp the syear by the middle with his right hand, raise the weapon to a level with his eyes, aim the point directly at the fish and strike with all his strength. In every sucli instance he will record a miss. Even if he makes proper allowance for refraction, the fish will take the alarm nt Ids motion and be gone before the weapon can reach its mnrk. The correct method is to hold the spear loosely with the left hand, with just the middle fingers of the right hand against the blunt end. Then carefully, so as not to alarm the fish, insert the point and two or three feet of the handle into the water. Refraction will apparently cause the handle to bend and raise the point above the direct line of the fish. But never mind that. Raise the opposite end until the head of the spear and that part of the handle that is in the water points directly toward the fish, regardless of where the remainder of the handle is aimed. Theii, witli a slight motion of the fingers of the right hand and a slight motion of the right wrist, send the spear across the palm of .of the left hand, and if the aim is true and the spear swift enough the fish will probably be pierced before it can turn. But be careful, or the right hand will drop involuntarily and unconsciously, thus elevating the ioint of the spear, and the fish will glide away unharmed. In spearing through the ice, however, the sportsman stands directly above the fish, thus eliminating the refraction. EQUAL DIVISION OF THE SPOILS. Spearing through the ice is best done by companies, and the division of the spoils should be equal, each person sharing alike, since some, from their respective positions, will have a much better chalice than others who may be less advantageously located. A place is selected where the stream flows slowly and steadily and preferably where the water is from three to five feet deep. Holes are cut through the ice diagonally across the stream, and for best results there should be just enough members, phis one, so that a line of holes six or eight feet apart can be cut from one shore to the other. Small houses are built, one over each hole. Sometimes tents or large boxes are used instead, but houses are better. These need be but four or five feet square, but for convenience the height should be about two feet greater than the length of the spear that is used. The houses are tight and each has a door but no window, the object being to keep the interior as dark as possible. Meantime the extra man drives a pair of horses attached to a heavy wagon to a point about two miles up the stream. Then he winds heavy chains round the wheels so as to cause a continual bumping, and drives upon the ice, crosses and recrosses the stream, and comes a little nearer to the spears-men at every trip. The bumping of the wagon alarms the fish and they swim slowly down the stream, passing under the open places with their whole attention fixed upon the strange sounds . behind them. .As they approach the holes they will almost invariably rise near the surface, presumably on account of a. better supply of oxygen, and a spear more than five feet in length is seldom necessary. The best siiear for this purpose is a homemade af fair"",anT" is" made by heating- -and straightening four large .fishhooks and attaching them to the end ; of a piece of half-inch gas pipe of suitable length. ; To land a large fish slip a landing net under it. 1
