292 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



fishing for them, a slight, pliant rod, with a stiffish tip, 

 should be used, with or without a reel (though the reel is 

 preferable, as his giant congener, the Eedfish, may take a 

 fancy to your bait), a float or not, as the depth of water, the 

 wind, or current may dictate ; hook. No. 2 or 3 Kirby ; bait, 

 shrimp, crawfish, or soft crab ; the first is preferable, peeling 

 the shell oftj and baiting with the white body. 



At New Orleans anglers expect them generally from the 

 middle of April to the first of May, and catch them in 

 Lake Ponchartrain until autumn. I have anchored off the 

 lighthouse at the end of the Shell Eoad a mile' from shore, 

 and with a pleasant breeze to soften the heat of the sun, a 

 light fifteen foot cane rod, a pitcher of ice-water, a good segar, 

 and a quiet companion, I have passed a pleasant morning 

 and had fine sport. 



The most approved way of cooking Croakers, as adopted 

 by the New Orleans restaurateurs, is to fry them in sweet oil ; 

 the vessel being so large as to float the fish, not allowing 

 them to touch the bottom or sides ; cooked thus they are 

 highly and deservedly prized. 



