The Drum Family 231 



the same length, very small hooks, about No. 8, 

 with bait of shrimp, cut clam, oyster, sandworm, 

 or earthworm. I used no float, but held the rod 

 elevated sufficiently to keep the bait from touch- 

 ing the bottom, thus maintaining a taut line, so 

 that the slightest nibble of the fish could be felt, 

 when I would endeavor to hook it at once, for it 

 is as well versed in bait-stealing as the cunner. 



It is only necessary to refer to the many names 

 by which this little fish is known in various sec- 

 tions of the country to prove its popularity. 

 Some of these are the spot, goody. Cape May 

 goody, and Lafayette of northern waters, the 

 roach and chub of Carolina, and the chopa blanca 

 (white bream) and besugo (sea-bream) of the 

 Portuguese and Spanish fishermen of Florida. It 

 appeared in unusually large numbers in northern 

 waters about the time that Lafayette visited this 

 country in 1834, hence one of its numerous names. 



Years ago I have seen crowds of men, women, 

 and boys occupying front seats on the wood- 

 wharves of Baltimore harbor engaged in fishing 

 for spots and croakers, on Saturday afternoons, 

 and many a boy was tardy at Sunday-school the 

 next morning through picking out the bones from 

 his Sunday breakfast. 



