The Electric Light

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.