Entries from September 2004 ↓

Eastern anglers are taking a leaf out of the book of the fishermen of the Pacific coast. It will be remembered that an enterprising Californian was the first in the country to utilize the idea of attacking fish by means of the electric light. He had the nets for his coast fishing studded with incandescent lamps, which were connected to batteries in an accompanying boat. As soon as the nets were sunk the current was turned on, and the incandescent filament drew fish from far and near, greatly surpassing in its effects on the hauling of the net the most irresistible of baits. Now an Albany man has devised an “electrical net,” which works very much after the same fashion, except that the electric light used is fixed above the water instead of below its surface. When the light is placed in position, the nets are set either to seaward of it or around it, flat upon the bottom. When the fish are drawn to the lamp a rubber tube which runs along the top of the net is inflated by a pump in the boat, the upper edge of the net will rise to the surface–the lower edge being held down by sinkers–and the fish are caught. A New Yorker has made a modification of the California plan using submerged lights. He simply puts a three-candle-power lamp in a quart preserving jar, lowers it in the water, and runs it with a sewing machine battery. He recommends those who wish to follow his example not to spend $20 on a battery, but buy an electric handbook and, with three goblets securely fastened in a plain wooden box, make for themselves for about $2.50 a battery which works just as well. He says that night fishing becomes a very lively sport if the light is placed anywhere in the neighborhood of fish. They swim around and spend considerable time investigating, but as soon as their curiosity is satisfied, they get down to business and discuss the baited hook which is dangling near-by.–Exchange.

A Librarian’s Open Shelf, by Arthur E. Bostwick. Blogging in books — the opinions of a librarian.

Again, today, one company at least–the Essanay, of Chicago–has broken away from the old rule of making pictures run to one, two, or more even reels. They decided to let all their photoplays run on until the story was logically told (with the aid of the printed inserts) and then to end it, regardless of the length to which it had run. Then, instead of announcing in the trade-papers that the picture was in so many reels, or parts, they simply stated that the screen-time of the picture was so many minutes, or an hour and so many minutes. From this, the exhibitor may easily reckon the approximate length of the picture. The important point in this connection is that it would seem that the foolish old custom of making a picture run to an arbitrary length, either by padding it out or by cutting it down, regardless of all reason and logic, will soon be a thing of the past. The harm done to certain productions in the past by forcing them to adhere to a certain number of feet–so many even reels–can hardly be estimated. Imagine stage plays being written to run so many even hours, instead of ending logically when the story is fully and consistently worked out!

Tillisch & Co. received a consignment of bananas Wednesday, which were taken out of the shipping cases and hung up, says a Watertown (S.D.) paper. Some little time afterwards a lady was looking them over and discovered a snake coiled around the stem of one of the bunches in such a way as to be entirely concealed by the overhanging fruit. She was greatly startled and called the attention of Mr. Forter, the clerk, to the fact that a snake was there, and he immediately got a pitch fork and proceeded to investigate further. At the first jab of the fork the snake ran a hasty survey of its surroundings, seeming to be somewhat irritated at having been disturbed. Mr. Kean, who was standing near, hit it on the head with a stock he happened to have in his hand and partially stunned it, and it was afterwards dispatched without ceremony.

It measured 3 feet and 1 inch in length, its color a brownish yellow, with irregular spots of a darker hue on its back and sides. It is not known definitely what species of snake it is, but that it came from the tropics and is of a venomous character there is no doubt. It is claimed by some that it is a spotted adder, but we have not yet met any one competent to vouch for its identity. It is on exhibition in Duffer Bros.’ window, being in a glass jar filled with alcohol, and attracts a great deal of attention. Mr. Forter certainly had a narrow escape from being bitten, as in taking out the bunches and hanging them up he is certain he must have touched it with his hands without knowing it. He is quite certain on one point, however, that hereafter bananas will be handled in that store with gloves.

For several days four or five persons in this city (among the number a Democrat reporter) have known of certain occurrences that have taken place at the new court house, and which Mr. McPherson and the contractors are trying to keep quiet and hush up, at least until the building shall be accepted by the county. But the Full facts cannot much longer be kept from the public, and The Democrat, as a newspaper, owes it to the people of the county, if not to science, to publish the facts, so far as they can be gathered from interested parties, who are reluctant to have the matter get out.

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