VAKIULS MKTIIUDS. .J'.ia 



fisliinj;, the hair iiiid silk line tiikcs the precedriict' ot" all others. 

 A rod of twelve or fourteen feet will sulViee from u bo.'it, but for 

 bunk or bridjje tishiui: oiu* of about cifxhtecn feet is prcfc ired by 

 the best fishers. 



Companitivi'ly fi-w persons troll for Hums as deseribcd above; 

 for, in faet, the <,'reat majority, even of our pood fishernuMi, are 

 in some sort pot-anglers, aiul prefer takin;,' iiioiistrons ;,'iaiits of 

 the water \^ ith coarse tackle, to tlu' far ;,'reater excitement of 

 skilfidly and delicately conqiicrini; a moderate-sized tish with 

 the finest tackle. The Striped Bass, it is said, is known to attain 

 till' weight of a liundred pounds; but such giants arc rare, 

 though up to forty or fifty pounds tlicy arc no rarities. The 

 largest fish arc taken in deep, rapid tide-ways, such as Ilellgatc 

 or the Ilacrlcm River, by trolling from the stern of a row-boat 

 \>ith a strong hanil-linc and a large hook baited with that 

 hideous piscine reptile, or insect rather, the real scjuid, or with 

 the artificial squid of tin or pewter. A good deal of skill is re- 

 ([uircd for this mode of fishing, but yet more strength than 

 skill, and it is a very wearisome pursuit. 



Still more fatiguing is the exercise of squidding for them with 

 the artificial bait in the ocean surfs of the outer beaches, in which 

 the toil of tlirowini; out and drairging in the s(|uiil becomes a 

 real labour. 



Neither of these mcthoils, anymore than taking them on set- 

 lines baited witli spearling or tom-cod, as is very successfully 

 practised in the Hudson, do I regard as legitimate or honest 

 fishing ; and they arc resorted to rather by the professional 

 fisherman than by the amateur for sport. 



Nor can I say that 1 look with nuuh sympathy on those who 



