Page 2 Advertisements Column 5

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14659, 29 January 1912, Page 2

There ■was a vigorous shaking of heads, accompanied by dismal prognostications of failure, when Mr Louis Cottow, a recent arrival from England, hired a boat at Watson's Bay, Sydney, and announced his intention to fish the harbour with no other bait than an attenuated beefsteak. The rumour spread, and a few loungers gathered round out of curiosity. Ancient fishermen laughed sardonically at the very suggestion; they recommended the visitor to take a supply, of prawns as a safeguard against failure, but Mr Cottew firmly refused the proffered advice and assistance, cn the ground that he had caught everything from plaioe to mackerel in England with no other bait than a Mnall piece of steak, a few yards of f-tring, and a hook, and he could see no reason why former successes should not be repeated in Australian waters. The fisherman rowed over to the entrance to Parslev Bay, where he anchored, cast his line over the Bide, and promptly hauled up a fine flathend. Fish after fish was brought 011 board, until the boat was half full. Two hours later, when Mr Cottew returned to .Watson's Bay, ifhe envy of the local fishermen, an old manner, who had been loudest In the prophecies of failure, stepped up to him *jid solemnly observed, " They bite to-day; but you couldn't do that n?nin to raorrotr; no, not to save your lifei*' 1