THE SEA BASS. 315 



THE SEA BASS. 



The Sea Bass is another gentleman among his finny comrades, and 

 he is sometimes taken by the rod-fisher while angling for the Sque- 

 teaque, or King-Fish. He is, however, difficult so to kill, and is com- 

 paratively rare in the inner waters. 



On the sea banks without Sandy Hook, in the lower bay, and in the 

 Sound, he is very abundant, and affords great sport to those who are 

 satisfied with quick biting and continual hauling in. 



Both for the Bass and the Big Porgee, stout hempen or flaxen drop- 

 lines are the most successful, varying from ten to twenty-five fathoms 

 in length, fitted with a single sinker of a pound weight, and three or 

 four hooks on separate snoods, eighteen inches asunder, of various 

 sizes, for various species of fish. 



For Porgees, the No. 3, round Black-Fish-hook, is preferred ; for 

 Sea Bass, No. 1 or 2, Kirby. The only bait is the clam, and it is 

 desirable to salt him for a day, which, hardening the flesh, renders it 

 more difficult for the fish to abstract him. 



No skill is required for this mode of fishing, except that of keeping 

 one's wits about him, striking very sharply the instant he feels a bite, 

 and hauling in rapidly with a taut line ; for, if a slack occurs, the fish 

 will often disengage themselves. 



Many people are very fond of this sport, but I hold it, after all, but 

 heavy work, not the less so for being considerably laborious, and for 

 the fact that hauling in the small, cutting line, hand over hand, and 

 the salt-water, are apt to make the fingers exceeding sore, if gloveless ; 

 and to use gloves in angling, would be something like donning the 

 upper Benjamin with fox-hounds. 



