336 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



Major: "To be sure it is; the little ones can't break the 

 line." 



I now had a twitch at rny fly, under water, and struck 

 something heavy, and gave it thirty yards of line before it 

 stopped — then it returned toward the boat, showing itself 

 on the surface. So we had it, back and forth, for about ten 

 minutes, giving and taking line, till the Bass showed his red 

 sides on the water, and it was reeled in within reach of the 

 gaff — a ten-pounder. 



"Pretty well, that, for a fly-rod; I never did think it could 

 be done," said Pacetti. "Hullo! there's a turtle," and he 

 made a dash over the side of the boat with the landing-net, 

 and secured a small green turtle of about six pounds weight. 

 "That will make a nice stew; we haven't had one since you 

 came, judge." My next fish was a Sea- Cat, which made a 

 sturdy fight, worthy of a Bass or a Trout. Then the major 

 got a Salt-water Trout of three pounds. 



"What kind of a fish is this," said P. as he tugged labori- 

 ously at his line, when presently appeared a formidable 

 weapon like a saw, two feet long, striking right and left. 

 "This is the worst fish of all to handle; I do despise a Saw- 

 fish," said he, and he cut the line, and the huge fish, some 

 six or seven feet long, swam away. "They are worse than 

 Sharks or Stingarees, and ruin my nets." 



Judge: "Did you ever get struck by one.'" 



"I have had them hit my boat, and cut big splinters out of 

 it. You see they lie on the bottom, in shoal water, and the 

 boat is apt to run on them; if you do, then look out for that 

 saw." 



Major: "Could a Saw-fish kill a Shark.'" 



"I don't know as to that, but I know that Sharks often 

 eat Saw-fish. We find the small saws on the beach, when 

 the balance of the fish has been eaten up by something — no 

 doubt Sharks — and a piece of Saw-fish is a good bait for a 

 Shark." 



