156 THE BLUE-FISH. 
weather is the best, and it is no use fishing unless the 
fish are on, which means that their visits are variable. 
At midday, when they generally cease biting, the adven- 
turous fisherman may land on Raccoon Beach, immor- 
talized by the genial wit of J. Cypress, jr., and either 
cook his fish by a fire built from the waifs of the sea, 
which I decidedly recommend, or get a fashionable din- 
ner from Dominy or '' t'other man " that keeps a hotel 
there. At this time it will be found, and I note the fact 
for the benefit of future generations, that a little liquor 
containing condensed carbonic acid gas and vulgarly 
called champagne, with water reduced to the tempera- 
ture of freezing and commonly called ice, will be pleas- 
ing to the palate and beneficial to the inner man. In 
explanation of this episode, I may say I have just been 
there. 
