368 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS, 



and this prejudice is clearly shown by British writers on 

 angling, from whom most of our ideas on fishing were 

 formerly derived. 



But it is only after such a wind lias prevailed for several 

 days, so as to lower the temperature of inland waters, that 

 it, in any way, affects the " biting " of fish. This, no 

 doubt, is often the case in Great Britain, and has led to the 

 erroneous supposition that an east wind, under any and all 

 circumstances, is most unfavorable fin* the angler; and this 

 idea has, to a great extent, been tacitly accepted to apply 

 to our own country as well. 



But unless the fish have an inherited traditionary re- 

 membrance of that "remarkable east wind" which divided 

 the waters of the Red Sea and enabled Moses and his fol- 

 lowers to pass over dry-shod, which causes them to be- 

 come suspicious of every east wind that blows, I can not 

 conceive how it affects their feeding, except, as stated be- 

 fore, when it has been of sufficiently long continuance to 

 cool the water. 



Alone: the Atlantic coast of the United States an east 

 wind is generally held to be unpropitious for fishing ; 

 but in this case 'post hoc is mistaken for propter hoc; in 

 other words, the effect is mistaken for the cause. After an 

 unusually long series of east winds, or easterly gales, the 

 tides are much affected thereby, and rise much higher, and 

 spread over more extensive surfaces. The fish, as a matter of 

 course, take advantage of this state of affairs, and, accord- 

 ingly, extend their range in quest of food, being rewarded 

 by great quantities of Crustacea, mollusks, etc., which be- 

 fore were inaccessible on account of the shallow water. 

 At such times, the fish arc not found on their usuaK feed- 

 ing grounds in the tideways, and hence has arisen the er- 

 roneous idea that they do not feed during an east wind. 



