THE STRIPED BASS 



cast is better described in the language of Mr. 

 Hallock, who says : 



" With a dexterity that practice alone can assume, 

 the angler carefully sways the rod until the squid 

 describes its slowly moving circle around the head, 

 and then, by a quick, inexplicable movement causes 

 it to dart like an arrow straight out, far over the 

 sea, while the reel whizzes and whirls till it seems 

 to strike fire, and then you wait for the cessation 

 of the hum, which indicates that the squid has 

 dropped full one hundred feet, perhaps one hun- 

 dred and fifty feet, away. The pleasure and ex- 

 citement of capture are intense, and the struggle 

 lasts for an hour, when the fish is large." 



At Cuttyhunk, large stages are built projecting 

 from the rocks into the sound and bay ; from these 

 anglers cast their squids and play their fish. There 

 are a large number of these stands at Cuttyhunk. 

 The club members draw lots for them, each one 

 being numbered or named. The stand belongs to 

 the member drawing it for that day, to be used by 

 himself, his guests, or invited members. 



The striped bass, like his cousin the black bass, 

 is an early bird, and during the season for casting 

 the best fishing begins at three a. m. 



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