SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



333 



up the creek. I had brought with me a twelve-ounce fly- 

 rod, made of greenheart by Scribner, of St. John, with 

 which I had killed many heavy Trout in New Brunswick. It 

 was a spliced rod about eleven feet long, and carried a click 

 reel with fifty yards of silk line, a six-foot leader, and a large 

 red-and-white Bass-fly. The major was using one of my chum 

 rods, and dropped his hook over the stern. P. sent his bio- 

 hook and half a Mullet well out into the stream, and I cast 

 about thirty feet astern, sinking the fly six inches in the 

 water, and then drawing it up — this for some time without 

 result. Now the major hooks what he supposes to be a Bass, 

 but it proves to be one of those active sea Cat-fishes, some- 

 times called from its high dorsal fin, "The GafT-topsail" 



a clean-built, handsome fish, blue and white in color, and 

 fighting long and hard on the hook. Like all the Cats, it is 

 covered with a nasty slime, which adheres to hands and 

 tackle; and it is also armed with sharp and poisonous serrated 

 bones in the pectoral fins, which inflict painful wounds on 

 the incautious. 



"When these Cats appear, it is a sign of warm weather," 

 said P., as he unhooked the fish; then he slashed it open with 

 his knife, bringing out a bunch of eggs, in form and color 

 like golden grapes; "I always kill them, so that they can't 

 bite again," said he. 



Judge: "Is it good eating.^" 



"Well, we don't eat them, we have so many better fish; 

 out the meat looks white and nice enough." 



Presently I have a rise, and hook a Salt-water Trout of 

 three pounds, which gave very good play for five minutes, 

 bending my pliant rod till P. declared it must break; but the 

 fish was brought safely to the net. At the next cast I got a 

 four-pounder; while playing it, the major was engaged in 

 combat with a good Bass, which he boated — a six-pounder. 

 "That's the kind I want; no more Cat-fish for me," said he. 

 My fish was saved also. 



