A Fishy Affair (S) (1913)

Perkins likes to fish, and his wife scolds about his lazy habits. She hides her savings in an old stocking, which she conceals under the mattress of the bed. A tramp enters the open window and steals the hoard. She imagines her husband has taken the money and is very angry. A policeman has seen the tramp and gives chase. Hard pressed, he throws the stocking into the river. While the policeman continues his pursuit, Perkins sits down on the sand to fish. The fish are seen nibbling around the hook by clever photography. Perkins thinks he has a bite and pulls up his line, finding the stocking attached to the hook. He throws it into his basket, and goes on fishing. Finally be gets another bite and hauls up an alligator. Thoroughly frightened, he rushes away and plunges into the midst of a score of alligators, and he has a narrow escape from the snapping jaws. The cop and the tramp have an exciting chase and fight, and the strong arm of the law drags the hapless wretch back to the Perkins home. Mrs. Perkins sees the stocking in the fish basket and brings it out. The tramp convinces them of his innocence, and Perkins is indignant to think his wife should suspect him of taking her money, but she finally cajoles him into forgiveness.