Musky Memories 1931 Fish Tales

C. S. Morris of Ottawa caught maskinonge ( musky) measuring 49 inches from tip to tip while fishing in the Rideau River near Burritt’s Rapids. Ronald Gilmour, of the Royal Flying Corps, a former Almonte man happens to be a neighbor of Mr. Morris and brought the head of the big fish to Almonte, where is has been mounted by Mr. Shipman.

The maskinonge was caught under circumstances that make most fish stories look like pikers. It appears Morris had landed a small pickerel weighing about a-pound-and-a-half. Wishing to keep it fresh while he continued his sport the angler tied a rope through its gills, put it back in the water and secured it to a pier. Soon afterward he noticed the rope jerking as if under heavy strain and on pulling it in found the big “muskie” had swallowed the pickerel hollus-bollus.

There was a battle royal to land the big fish. After a tug-of-war lasting 15 minutes one of Mr. Morris’ companions fashioned a rude gaff with which the big fellow was hoisted onto dry land. The head, only partly prepared for mounting, was shown to a’ number of friends by Mr. Shipman today. When finished it will be a fine trophy.

Sept 25 1931

AL B Backi’ve fished there and one time i was bringing in about a ten pound pike and a muskie grabbed it,around the manotick area the muskie eat the ducks all the time,they’re still there,another time my friend and i pulled out two 4 footers about an hour part,it was fun watching people screaming and getting out of the water when they seen these toothy creatures breaking water…

The Fish That Tried to Swallow a Boy’s Leg?

Shane Wm. Edwards Findlay Fish Tale

Tales from Hudson’s Bay

Tales From Rocky Narrows

Little Kenny Morphy Went Pike Fishing

How to Really Catch Fish With Dynamite at the Glen Isle Bridge

Stewart Gilmour David Phillips 1924

May 2, 1924

NAME:	Stuart William Gilmour
GENDER:	M (Male)
BIRTH DATE:	5 May 1909
BIRTH PLACE:	Almonte, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada
DEATH DATE:	27 Apr 1977
DEATH PLACE:	Ottawa Municipality, Ontario, Canada
CEMETERY:	Huntley United Cemetery
BURIAL OR CREMATION PLACE:	Huntley, Ottawa Municipality, Ontario, Canada
HAS BIO?:	N
FATHER:	William Gilmour
MOTHER:	Isabella G. Gilmour

Photo Mississippi Valley Textile Museum

Mississippi River Eeelpout — A Story ?

There is a true story that one of our local fisherman in the early 1900s had a narrow escape from serious injury, if not death while fishing in the Mississippi River in his boat. He was approximately 500 yards from shore when a snapping eelpout four feet long was attracted by the noise of the whirling propeller blades. The eelpout charged the rear of the boat with such force two of the blades snapped off.

The fisherman slashed at the fish with a wrench. The aquatic creature sprang clear out of the water and sank its teeth into the angler’s nose tearing off part of it before it fell back into the water from the fisherman’s blows.

The eelpout then bit through the bottom of the boat and tore a piece of the man’s boot and lacerated one of his toes. The fisherman became so angry, that he jumped into the water and pursued the eel until he caught it. He held it under the water until it drowned, but not until the eel had practically torn all his clothes and wounded him severely in the head and arms.

He was soon rescued by fellow fisherman Mr. Gardner and Mr. Henshaw who had heard all the noise coming from the area. They told the fisherman that snapping eelpouts are very savage-especially males. In some localities they found it necessary to strangle the young eelpouts to protect the residents that lived on the shore of the Mississippi.

Sounds like something out of the movie Lake Placid to me!!!

Eelpout fight just like walleyes. In fact, it’s hard to tell the difference—until they poke their noses up out of the hole. At that point, their squirming bodies resemble some hybrid cross between dogfish and eels. When they coil their tails snakelike around your wrist, well, you get that same creepy, eerie feeling you get around members of the legal profession. Thus the name lawyers…

The Eeels Named “Ling” of Carleton Place

The size of a Minivan Sitting 30 Feet Offshore— The Big Rock of Carleton Place

Myth #343 The Electric Eeel of Carleton Place

Summer Holidays at Snow Road Cleaning Fish — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

 

From the Original Photo Album of my Grandfather: John Andrew Lahey Some Catches from the good old Mississippi River at Richard’s Castle, Snow Road Vacation in the 1940’s

 

While on our Summer holidays fishing was a big part of the men’s activities.  Fish was also a source of food and we felt a real treat, many a meal was served, and everyone enjoyed it. Cleaning of the catch was so important as no one wanted a scale left on to be crunched on while eating.

I do remember worrying about my family out in the boat as Dad didn’t swim,  I never saw Grandpa swimming, now my Uncles did. These trips would take place before breakfast when other people were not yet out of bed, or sometimes after supper in the evening.  Pictures of the catch were taken with everyone beaming. Now this was when the fish were plentiful and also great for eating. No pollution in the waters then. Now writing this down I do have to admit the taste buds are waiting to be treated.

Off in the morning they would go on their merry way, getting ready was a big thing and the noise level could sometimes be high, what ever happened to respect for other people still sleeping.  It always amazed me that the fishing tackle and rods were not left in place for their morning fish. These were men on a mission, no motor for the boats you would row to your destination. On the way back, they  were rowing against the current which made it a bit more challenging . On most occasions they would fish the mighty Mississippi River for a couple of hours, and then come back to the stone house. I was never sure whether they had had enough fishing or were hungry for breakfast.  I do think the tummy had something to do with it though.

Now when Mom and Grandma knew they had caught a feed of fish, dinner menu was planned.  I can remember the flour, salt and pepper in a bowl and a mixed up egg to dip the fish in before pan frying.  I also remember the old Findlay Cast Iron Frying Pan for frying the fish, in those days one never thought about calorie count. As a child this was heavy beast to lift. Cleaning of the Fry Pan was a ritual that only a few knew how to do it properly.

Now it was hoped that there were still Lemons available to be squeezed on the fish.  I do know that Mom would buy a few at the Fruit Store and wrap them carefully for our stay at Snow Road as she knew there would be a few fish caught.  They would also make up their own recipe for what is now called Tartar Sauce. Oh it was just so good and MIND THE BONES, you don’t want to choke, was always voiced to the young ones.

On one particular day my Uncle was cleaning the catch down on the edge of water.  Grandpa always seemed to managed to be the expert on how this should be done. Uncle was well engrossed in his chore and doing a great job, when under his feet something moved.  It turned out to be a rather large snapping turtle who had been sunning himself close to shore and checking out his source of food. This was rather distressing as everyone knew that the Turtle could do some damage if he wanted to. There was lots  of advice given to him from others around, on how this situation should be rectified . After some discussion my Uncle was cautious and removed himself off the turtle’s back. I am sure he would have been safe as he was dropping the discarded parts of the fish into the water, and the turtle was having a real treat which was being prepared in bite size pieces just for him.  Come to think of it not many ever volunteered to do the cleaning of fish.

From then on when the fish were being cleaned, the shore line was checked out for  turtles, who might just be lurking around waiting for their tid bit treat.

Man those fresh Pickerels were great and they are still a treat!  Come to think of it, it has been years since I sat down of a meal of good pickerel.  Not so sure they are as plentiful today in the good old Mississippi River, in the 1940’s,  dream on Noreen.

From the pen of Noreen Tyers

 

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place and The Tales of Almonte

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun  Screamin’ Mamas (USA)  and The Sherbrooke Record

Snow Road Adventures- Hikes in the Old Cave — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

Putting Brian on the Bus– Stories from my Childhood Noreen Tyers

My Childhood Memory of Richard’s Castle –From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

Grandpa’s Dandelion Wine — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

My Wedding Tiara — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

The Art of Learning How to Butter Your Toast the Right Way — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

Smocked Dresses–From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

The Kitchen Stool — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

The Flying Teeth in Church — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

The Writings of Noreen Tyers of Perth

Memories of Grandpa’s Workshop — Noreen Tyers

Cleaning out Grandmas’ Fridge — Noreen Tyers Summer Vacation at Richard’s Castle

My Flower Seeds — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

When the Rent was $100 a Year

 

 

I cut this out as the newspaper was becoming extremely faded and wanted to salvage it.

 

 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  02 Feb 1963, Sat,  Page 35

 

From Perth Remembered

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)

 

 

Just a Field of Stones Now? “The Old Perth Burying Ground” Now on Ontario Abandoned Places?

The Old Burying Ground — Perth

Clippings of The Old Perth Train Station

Little Kenny Morphy Went Pike Fishing

 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  19 May 1956, Sat,  Page 21

 

 

 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  23 Aug 1958, Sat,  Page 12

 

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.

How to Really Catch Fish With Dynamite at the Glen Isle Bridge

Memories of the Pickerel Run Innisville

More Pictures of the Innisville Pickerel Run

The Angling Adventures of John and Leonard McNeely

Feathers in the Dusk of Night-Hughes Island

The Harold Kettles Series – Blowing up Beaver Dams in Beckwith

 

I have been writing about downtown Carleton Place Bridge Street for months and this is something I really want to do. Come join me in the Domino’s Parking lot- corner Lake Ave and Bridge, Carleton Place at 11 am Saturday September 16 (rain date September 17) for a free walkabout of Bridge Street. It’s history is way more than just stores. This walkabout is FREE BUT I will be carrying a pouch for donations to the Carleton Place Hospital as they have been so good to me. I don’t know if I will ever do another walking tour so come join me on something that has been on my bucket list since I began writing about Bridge Street. It’s always a good time–trust me.

Are You Ready to Visit the Open Doors?

 

The Angling Adventures of John and Leonard McNeely

 

Thanks to the collection of Wanda Lee Morrison and the late Joan Kehoe

 

 

Photos from Perth Remembered

The Innisville Pickerel Run was known as the “Mississippi Lake Feeding Frenzy” and it was the biggest event in the ‘Ville’. People still say that there were millions of pickerel covering the river bottom under the Innisville bridge and word was that  you could see a solid layer of fish eyes, side by side, caught in the flashlights of onlookers.  All kinds of people stood on that Innisville bridge, with cars parked everywhere and the general  store doing a booming business.

One day John and Leonard McNeely got themselves one heck of a catch from Mississippi Lake in the late winter of 1964. After just a few hours the men came home with a record catch of 12 pickerel. They were lucky, as time was running out because the season was soon ending in preparation for the annual spawning.

All winter fishing had been poor, and not much had come out of the cold season in their fishing hut after chopping holes through the thick ice. However that morning in 1964, all they had to do was drop their lines through the ice and the pickerel grabbed the bait. Four of the fish weighed over 4 pounds alone, and Len said  there were no government regulations on how many fish he could have caught that day.

It seemed that in the the winter of 1963 a lot of fisherman from Perth had tried their luck and some of them left their minnows on the ice. Well Len spotted them and decided to try fishing with the dead minnows and it worked- unlike those Perth fisherman. As Len said, if they didn’t try and use them someone else might.

It appears luck was with these two men this time, as for years the Pickerel had been sparse, and as a result the Department of Land and Forests had taken to restocking Mississippi Lake. The natural restocking area which had been declared a sanctuary was situated at Innisville. The McNeely brothers felt that if so many pickerel could be caught in such a short time (5am to 8am) this indicated the fish were still there. On the other hand, with so much fishing pressure in the summer, they wouldn’t mind seeing the fishing season shortened.

The Pickerel population diminished very quickly. The department of Lands and Forests did put in concrete cribs at the rapids to encourage spawning to try to get the pickerel back and all that they succeeded in doing some say was to block the flow of the river and provide a nesting place for the sea gulls. Now you have to pay to see fish extravaganzas in Sea World and the like. Back then all you had to do was to drive out to Innisville and just watch those fish swim.

 

 

Allan Lewis— This is known as the “Mississippi Lake Feeding Frenzy”. My cousin, Garry Burns (was from Carleton Place) and I ran into this phenomenon once on a very hot August day, in 10 feet of water. The pickerel were almost jumping into the boat. It lasted for about an hour. A great day on the lake!

 

 Gail Sheen-MacDonald-– The fish population diminished very quickly. The department of Lands and Forests put in concrete cribs at the rapids to encourage spawning to try to get the Pickerel back. All that succeeded in doing was to block the flow of the river and provide a nesting place for the sea gulls. The gulls created a tremendous problem polluting the river and making swimming extremely dangerous. One of my friends almost lost his life due the bacteria from the bird feces that attacked his heart. I attended many meetings of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority to see what could be done. As it turned out, there was money to put the cribs in, but none to remove them. It is also against the law to shoot sea gulls even though many residents and cottagers wanted to to just that.

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  04 Sep 1943, Sat,  Page 13