AN ODD CITY SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 10, 12 January 1929, Page 18

AN ODD CITY SPORT

FISHING FOR LOST COINS '.'/ Tub NeW York 'sport that pauses not for. :wint.or.. or .'rough ;weather is street fishing:'"": Perhaps- the inprer technical, -name for it would bo subway fishing, for it often has to.do with the underground railroad,- says.:a correspondent of. the"New York Times," ' It is not; jm'uciiftin to anyone over 17; the': ploa-suro-varies, inversely with'age. ! >' . The, equipment for the sport 'is.."simple .-—a fairly long piece^of-string, a bit of chewing gum—and, of course, plenty of patience.. The fisherman must have a 'careless: 1 manner, '(New.<. Yorkers are good' at.-this) \vhieh; pays.no attention - to ■' "crowds, patrolmen;: 'or'; rival fisher-. men. .-...'..'. .'. . '•■■ -. '•■'.,' •' The prize is..usually a 5-cent piece; ■which,has been, dropped through.a grat-: irig 'by, some' one who does not pay proper attention to where his money ■ goes. It drops down 10ft or so, then rests easily and seems to wink up cheerfully at the people overhead. ; Presently tho fishermen arrive- with' their string,' their chewing gum, and theil" patience. The gum is attached to the string and then lowered over the coin,'. If nothing happens'the first' time, the experiment, can be repeated with a small weight placed on, top of the gum. Once the nickel is "hooked" it is a simple .matter "to draw it up.