Miscellaneous Fishes 365 



banks, using such crustaceans as fiddlers, beach- 

 fleas, and shrimps for bait, alternated with small 

 minnows. When beach-fleas are used a fly-rod is 

 preferable and the hook should be smaller than 

 where other bait is employed; No. 4 is about right, 

 if of the Sproat or O'Shaughnessy pattern, they be- 

 ing of larger and stronger wire than other patterns. 

 If beach-fleas are used with a bait-rod, a small 

 sinker must be added to give weight to the cast. 

 The ten-pounder snaps at the bait or fly in the 

 manner of most fishes, and is off immediately in 

 a wild whirl, skimming through the water, if 

 shallow, in a way to astonish the angler who 

 hooks one for the first time. Then follows a 

 series of brilliant leaps and aerial contortions that 

 commands the admiration of the coldest-blooded 

 fisher. The lady-fish, however, owing to the 

 position of its mouth, being underneath its pro- 

 jecting snout, does not at first take the bait with 

 the vim and snap of the ten-pounder, but appar- 

 ently nibbles or mouths it for a while, but when 

 hooked displays the same energy and desperate 

 efforts to escape as its congener. The consistent 

 angler may truly exclaim with Pope : — 



" How happy could I be with either, 

 Were t'other dear charmer away." 



