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Show t I Q. ft 0 n .7 '0 ft 'J o : )) f . V A) , - Catching this finny ugly duckling is a popular sport involving a minimum of work and a maximum of good companionship. Xhe night was cool and still and faintly lit by moonlight Black bayou waters stirred sluggishly as the small skiff, with two men in it, glided to an overhanging bush near the bank. . A flashlight beam picked out a slender line tied securely to the bush. 'There it is," said the man with the light "Just a little bit closer. With a slight bump the skiff hit land, and the man in front pulled the glistening line from the murky water. At about five-fo- ot intervals, shorter lines hung from the main cord stretched across the bayou. The light picked out dozens of small fish impaled on hooks and dangling from the short lines. "Three baits missing, reported the man holding the flashlight With a motion, he pulled the a bare . skiff along Uie main cord. When he reached hooC he baited it with a small fishTFlnallyr off the light "Okay, let's move down to the next trotline.. The men were fishing on Dickinson Bayou in Galveston County, Texas. times downright repulsive! What tfien is its attraction? First of all, catfish are numerous. More than a hundred species are found from the Great Lakes to Florida, from, Maine to California. They are good eating and can be taken without a lot of fancy equipment Best of all, catfishing must be done at night with a minimum of work and a maximum of "shboting-thebreezaround the campfire. The two men on Dickinson Bayou pulled into shore near a feebly burning campfire. "Reckon we ought to stir up the Jire and put on a pot' of coffee, , said W. W. Gallaway. . o? He and - his fri we, had cmeout that afternoon to select, the camp site and to seine for small bait fish. The fire burned down to a bed of live coals, and -- anchoring the trotline. The fishermen worked their way close to where the line sagged deepest and Loewe grabbed the short cord and pulled. When he could see the thrashing, frantic fish, he carefully worked his hand under the cat's belly up to the gills and pulled him out "Not a big one, he said. "About seven pounds," But he was grinning with pleasure. They stowed the cat in the boat and inspected the rest ol the line. That was all; just bait dangling e" . hand-over-ha- nd he-switc- the men sipped coffee from tin cups. Now was the time for talk. Easy talk. Philosophical talk. Finally Gallaway squinted at the moon." "Time to look at those trotlines, he said. The men pushed off in the skiff. Each trotline was inspected for a cat or lost bait At the third line the flashlight showed a movement of the bush Catfishing is a popular sport with men and women throughout the, nation, but especially in the South. The fish they seek is not a game fish, and he's anything but beautiful. In fact, he's some- hed 1 from the , hooks. end,-WT.L- . But the merPwrerdn moonlit water,, wood smoke, hot coffee, and good companionship. And now they had their catfish. ' . JUNE 5. 155 FAMIir WCEKIT MAGAZINE IS |