RECORD FISH STORY.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 321, 15 October 1908, Page 2

RECORD FISH STORY.

All the fish stories since prehistoric times have been eclipsed by the tale of the grateful crab told in a recent number of the “ Era,” an English paper. The heroes of the story are Mr Alfred Sommerlad, musical director of the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, and Mr Egar Bateman, the song-writer. Mr Bateman, marching along with his rods, met Mr Sommerlad, and told him he was on his way to the Hippodrome to borrow a "professional’s” dress-basket, as no creel would hold his average catch. !: I’ve heard of your prowess with the rod,” said the musician, “ and now I’m coming to the pier with you to see whether it is true.” Nothing abashed, Mr Bateman led the way to the staging under the pier-head, which was deserted, and, dropping down a line, soon hooked a fine specimen of the edible crab. He was about to destroy the creature, when Mr Sommerlad begged that its life might be spared. It was then tossed back to the water, and at that moment an accidental kick sent the tin box containing the lug and rag"worms after the crab, and all the bait was gone ! There were no other persons fishing fiom whom worms could be begged oi borrowed, so the disconsolate song-writer lowered the line again into the sea, as one solitary fragment of bait was adhering to the hook, and sadly led the ■way to the refreshment department. Then the time approached for Mr Sommerlad to get to the theatre, and Mr Bateman went, to fetch the rod, having decided to w r alk with him on the way. Judge the twain’s amazement to find the basket they had left empty on the still deserted stage full to overflowing with fine flounders, soles, rock-whiting, and plaice ! They rubbed their eyes with astonishment at what seemed a miracle, when suddenly the explanation was forthcoming. Painfully making its way up the fishing line came the creature whose life had been spared, bearing in its nippers a fine young conger, which it carefully placed with the other fish on the basket. Then it dropped back into the water to return no more. Apparently, the grateful crab, knowing by instinct that he had caused the bait to be lost, had deposited of live fish in the song-writer’s creel, as a thankoffering for its life being spared I