322 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



the snags, and as I could not get it out, I was obliged to 

 break my line, losing hook and sinker. I put on another 

 hook, and put the bait near the same place, and in a few 

 minutes I hooked another Grouper of over four pounds, which 

 with some difficulty I boated. The tide having now turned, 

 we dropped down with it, and crossed the sand flats, then 

 anchored near the channel which led to the Inlet. 



"What sail boat is that coming across the Inlet.'" 



"One of the Smyrna boats bound up to Daytona," said P. 



We were anchored in about six feet of water and cast our 

 baits into the channel. Soon I had a strike, and the line 

 ran out thirty yards, and a good-sized Bass showed himself on 

 the surface. As I was playing it, suddenly the pull became 

 very heavy, and a big surge appeared on the water. "A Shark 

 has got your Bass," cried Pacetti, and my line came in with 

 half of a good sized Bass on the hook. "Bit it off, as if cut 

 with an ax," said P. "now I will have satisfaction out of that 

 Shark," and he took a heavy line with a big hook and chain, 

 from a locker, and baited with the head and shoulders of the 

 Bass, which he cast out in the channel. There was a bare 

 sand-bank near by, and there we landed and drove a stout 

 stake into the sand, and made the line fast to it. In about 

 ten minutes P. began to haul in the line; as the bait came in 

 sight we saw a large Shark following it, and when it came 

 within ten feet of the bank, it was seized and taken away. 

 Then P. gave a smart pull. "He is hooked! lay hold, boys 

 — and rouse him out on the bank." Easier said than done, 

 for the Shark, turning, dragged the three of us to the water's 

 edge, and we had to trust to the stake, which, however, held, 

 and after some heavy drags at it, we again laid hold and 

 succeeded in hauling the Shark ashore. "Look out for his 

 tail," said Pacetti, as he pounded the head of the fish. 

 It was eight or nine feet long, and showed a fearful set of 

 teeth. 



"Can I take this one too?" asked the professor. 



