FISH, FISHER. One who attempts to ingratiate himself with his instructor, thereby to obtain favor or advantage; one who curries favor.
You besought me to respect my teachers, and to be attentive to my studies, though it shall procure me the odious title of a "fisher."—Monthly Anthology, Boston, 1804, Vol. I. p. 153.
FISHING. The act performed by a fisher. The full force of this word is set forth in a letter from Dr. Popkin, a Professor at Harvard College, to his brother William, dated Boston, October 17th, 1800.
"I am sensible that the good conduct which I have advised you, and which, I doubt not, you are inclined to preserve, may expose you to the opprobrious epithet, fishing. You undoubtedly understand, by this time, the meaning of that frightful term, which has done more damage in college than all the bad wine, and roasted pigs, that have ever fired the frenzy of Genius! The meaning of it, in short, is nothing less than this, that every one who acts as a reasonable being in the various relations and duties of a scholar is using the basest means to ingratiate himself with the government, and seeking by mean compliances to purchase their honors and favors. At least, I thought this to be true when I was in the government. If times and manners are altered, I am heartily glad of it; but it will not injure you to hear the tales of former times. If a scholar appeared to perform his exercises to his best ability, if there were not a marked contempt and indifference in his manner, I would hear the whisper run round the class, fishing. If one appeared firm enough to perform an unpopular duty, or showed common civility to his instructors, who certainly wished him well, he was fishing. If he refused to join in some general disorder, he was insulted with fishing. If he did not appear to despise the esteem and approbation of his instructors, and to disclaim all the rewards of diligence and virtue, he was suspected of fishing. The fear of this suspicion or imputation has, I believe, perverted many minds which, from good and honorable motives, were better disposed."—Memorial of John S. Popkin, D.D., pp. xxvi., xxvii.
To those who've parts at exhibition,
Obtained by long, unwearied fishing,
I say, to such unlucky wretches,
I give, for wear, a brace of breeches.
Will of Charles Prentiss, in Rural Repository, 1795.
And, since his fishing on the land was vain,
To try his luck upon the azure main.—Class Poem, 1835.
Whenever I needed advice or assistance, I did not hesitate, through any fear of the charge of what, in the College cant, was called "fishing," to ask it of Dr. Popkin.—Memorial of John S. Popkin, D.D., p. ix.
At Dartmouth College, the electioneering for members of the secret societies was formerly called fishing. At the same institution, individuals in the Senior Class were said to be fishing for appointments, if they tried to gain the good-will of the Faculty by any special means.
FIVES. A kind of play with a ball against the side of a building, resembling tennis; so named, because three fives or fifteen are counted to the game.—Smart.
A correspondent, writing of Centre College, Ky., says: "Fives was a game very much in vogue, at which the President would often take a hand, and while the students would play for ice-cream or some other refreshment, he would never fail to come in for his share."