422 SHEEPS-HEAD FISHING. 



THE SHEEP'S-HEAD. 



This capital fish, which holds the same repute in America 

 Avhich is held bj'^ the Turbot in Europe, is sometimes hooked 

 by the rod-fisher while angling for the Barb, Squeteaque, or 

 Striped Bass ; but when this occurs, he generally beats his 

 retreat successfully, carrying off with liim bait, line, bottom, 

 and hooks together. 



Still he is sometimes mastered by dehcate skill and judicious 

 administration of the reel, but then only by the best of tackle, 

 manipulated by the best of fishermen. Drop-lines of strong 

 hempen cord, a quarter of an inch thick, and two hundred 

 yards long, with a heavy sinker, and a large stout Black Fish 

 hook, will, however, pretty certainly bring him home. 



He frequents the vicinity of rocks, and loves to bite at the 

 small rock-crab, and the soft-shelled clam. 



The best way is to bait with the clam whole and unbroken, 

 burying the whole hook nearly to the arming in the neck of 

 the clam. By doing this, the incessant and vexatious nibbling 

 of the small fish is avoided ; and the shell of the clam is a mere 

 nothing to the great paved round teeth, which line the palate 

 of this strong voracious fish. 



Where small fish are not frequent, the clams may be put on 

 open, with success. 



