134 THE JERSEY COAST. 
closed, the canvas-backs and red-heads have been 
scarce.” 
“ What do you mean by the inlet’s closing ?” 
“ There used to be several inlets across the beach 
—one about ten miles below—and then we had 
splendid oysters and ducks plenty. There came a 
tremendous storm one winter that washed up the 
sand and closed the inlet, and so it has remained 
ever since.” 
“ Can’t they be dredged out ?” 
“The people would pay a fortune to any man 
who did that, if he could keep it open. In the fall, 
we go after ducks twenty miles when we want any 
great shooting; but we kill a good many round 
here.” 
‘“‘ How do you catch the blue-fish that you spoke 
or? ?* 
“They chase the bony-fish along the shore, and 
when they come close in, you can stand on the 
beach, and throw the squid right among them. I 
took sixteen hundred pounds in halfa day.” 
** Phew !” was the universal chorus. 
‘“‘>Lige was there, and he knows whether that is 
true. They averaged fifteen pounds apiece. On 
those occasions, the only question is whether you 
know how to land them, and can do it quick 
enough.” 
“Your hands must have been cut to pieces.” 
“ Not at all; you’ll-never cut your hands if you 
don’t let the line slip.” 
* Did you run up ashore with them ?” 
