From the Tuesday, October 11, 1921 edition of The News Journal:
Conestoga Yield 2 Bonita Mackerel Local Anglers Says
Placid waters of the Conestoga creek have become turbulent and dangerous from the labored movements of big fish and according to reports all sporting goods dealers are warned to lay in a stock of full sized whaling harpoons to supply the game fish hunters in this section.
The rumors from which the opening paragraph resulted are laid at the door of one Ira E. Mellinger who is responsible for the following newest fish story.
“It is not my policy to eulogize my attainments on a fishing expedition, but as dozens of friends and witnesses corroborate the story of a prize haul I made this week along the Conestoga river, I have yielded to giving an account of it, possibly nearer in detail than others could.
“As a result two Bonita mackerel measuring 22 and 22 and one half inches respectively long, which tipped the scales at 20 pounds, are now being exhibited instead of masticated, because of attractions they are drawing, as a new species of fish never before known of in local waters.
“I have been invited repeatedly to go a fishing after reported 8 and 10 pound bass that were said to be tearing lines and snapping hooks of anglers in the upper waters of the Conestoga. Thinking that the excitement was caused by monster carp, which are commonly responsible for such stunts, I was reluctant to stroll there for game fish, while idea of the carp only could be entertained about heavy weights. But when I heard that live bait were being snatched with terrific force and speed that enabled the biter to elude even fishermen like W. O. Frailey and other noted fishermen, I decided to investigate by a favorite method of going alone.
“To my surprise must admit that Simon Peter could not have been in a greater predicament, as I landed the mysterious water tribe giants. No pail could contain them, strings broke above them, while experience and inquiry could not define them. Nearby old time fishermen were approached to solve the new kind discovered, but without avail. Some said they were halibut, others cross of leather back and silver carp, some said young shark.
“As a last resort for information, the Frailey pharmacy was called over phone, where these fish were later examined by W. O. Frailey, H. E. Frailey, John G. Weston and interested ones, who gathered during the interval. Again no satisfaction, except that the fish were a blend of local and ocean mackerel, was decided that they either came up streams before Holtwood dam was built, or happened to be scooped among past schools that were planted years ago in the Conestoga and taken from foreign waters where salt water fish also abounded.
“Finally the Mettfett firm were consulted, who pronounced the fish as Bonita mackerel, usually found in the ocean. Photographs are being made of them and further search with experiment in the Conestoga will determine future planting of this tribe locally, that might improve local fishing.”
Click here to read The Curious Case of the Conestoga Mackerel.