SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 32 1 



properly, calling this species the white-headed eagle — 

 Halictns Icticocephahis.'''' 



Judge: "The fish have stopped biting, Pacetti." 



P. : "Some Shark or other big fish around the boat, I 

 reckon." 



Professor: "My hook seems to be fastened to the bottom; 

 please try to loose it for me." 



P.: "You are fast to a big fish; I can't move it. Now it 

 starts — it's powerful strong. I know what it is — a Nurse- 

 Shark," and with much difficulty he began to drag it up. It 

 was a heavy pull of a dead weight, but he got it up so that 

 with a gaff hook it was got alongside. A thick-set, light 

 brown fish, about seven feet long and a foot through, came 

 slowly up. It resembled a Shark in outline but did not fight 

 like a Shark. 



"I will have to cut off the hook; it's too far inside to med- 

 dle with," said Pacetti, "the teeth are small, but it could 

 cut my hand off." 



Professor: "I would like to save that fish, and take his 

 skin home with me." 



P. : "Then I will kill it, and we will leave it here on the 

 bank till we go home." 



So we hauled it ashore and killed it by blows on the head 

 with a club. 



"Now we had better take lunch," said P., "it's nearly 

 noon. Ham, bread and butter, pie, and oranges; take hold, 

 judge. Here is something I want you to try, gentlemen — 

 Mullet roe, smoked; I put it up every year for my own 

 use." 



Judge: "And a very good relish it is — the Mullet must be 

 larger than those you catch for bait." 



P. : "In the fall we get them to weigh three or four pounds." 



While we lunched, my line had been in the water, and 

 now I saw it moving; before I could get hold of the rod, the 

 fish, probably a Grouper, had reached its stronghold under 



21 



