120 FISHING AT ST. AUGUSTIXE. 



and with the end of the line tied around the waist, or to 

 his wrist to prevent its escape as it flies out, and neatly 

 coiled in his left hand to run off easily, and with a yard 

 or two above the sinker hanging from his right hand, 

 the fisherman wades into the surf, about waist deep, and 

 swinging the sinker around his head, launches it out as 

 far as he can, and then draws it gradually in, so as to 

 keep the bait moving. When he feels a bite he gives a 

 jerk, to hook the fish, and, if successful, he puts the 

 line over his shoulder, and starts for the beach, going as 

 fast as he can for if he lets the line slack, he will proba 

 bly lose his fish. On emerging from the water he runs out 

 on the beach and drags the fish upon the sand, where he 

 secures it and, re-baiting his hook, starts for another 

 throw. The hook, or hooks sometimes two or more are 

 used are put on a smaller piece of line, on account of 

 the abundance of small sharks, which literary swarm in 

 the breakers, where the bass and other fish most do con 

 gregate, and are very apt to seize the bait and break the 

 line, carrying off sinker and all, if it breaks above it. 

 The sinker is perforated so that the bite can easily be 

 felt, the line readily slipping through it. The surf is 

 about fifty yards from the edge of the beach, there being 

 a line of shoal about that distance, over which the waves 

 break. Between this and the shore the water is shallow; 

 about thigh-deep at low tide, and the fisherman wades out 

 to the bank. As the tide rises he is obliged to conic in, 

 the surf breaking all the way to the shore when the water 

 is two or three feet deep on the bar. It is not a very 

 comfortable feeling to turn when on the shoal, and see a 

 shark or two swimming up and down between you and 

 the shore especially if you have a bite and are making 

 for the beach. But they are very shy, and quickly get 



