The story of the fish
Puzzle
The above sketch represents the
greatest fish catch of the season, as
told by the champion angler, who
says: "The scales weigh nine pounds,
and when putting the fish on the
scales we find that they weigh three
pounds. Now, take the fish off the
scales and the scales off the fish and
we find they weigh one-fifth of the
weight of the fish without their
scales. In view of the fact that the weight of the fish without their scales is equal to one-fourth of the
combined weight of the scales, what would be the weight of the fisherman if he is holding up just one-tenth of his own weight?" That is it! Never mind anything about the fish; what is the weight of the boy ?
I don't know what the rest of the
story has to do with puzzles, but,
somehow or other, whenever I hear a
story which makes a fellow stop and
clear the cobwebs off his brain so as
to think clearly, I say to myself that
it is a good one to tell the class;
wonder if it will bother them to see
the point?
When Sammy brought his string
of fish home his father said sternly:
"Sammy, I am going to punish
you for disobedience. When I gave
my consent to your spending a day
at your grandfather's, I told you not
to leave the place without his permission. And yet you ran away and
went fishing all the afternoon."
"But grandpa said I might," an-
swered the lad.
"Come, come, sir! Your grand-
father says you did not even mention the subject to him."
"Pa—"
The lad stood on one foot.
"Well ?"
"There is an old saying that 'the
child is the father of the man isn't
there?"
"Yes."
"Well, then, that makes me your
father, doesn't it ? And if I am your
father, of course I am also your son's
grandfather. Your son asked me if
he might go fishing, and told him he
might if he would be a good boy.
He said he would be, and he kept
his promise, pa."
Here the lad stood on the other
foot.
"Clarence, my son," said the fond
father, with great feeling, "take
good care of your health, for if you
live you'll be a lawyer yet."
Solution
Show solution
References
- Loyd, Sam [1914]. in Loyd, Sam, Jr.: Sam Loyd's Cyclopedia of 5000 Puzzles Tricks and Conundrums (in English). New York: Lamb Publishing company, page 63.
