STRIPED BASS FISHING. 673 



I prefer the latter, provided I can obviate the objection to its liability to 

 kink. I overcome this difficulty in the following manner: tie one end to 

 a post or tree in an open field and unwind the whole length ; then grasp it 

 where it is made fast, with a piece of cloth or linen, press tightly, and 

 walk to the other end ; repeat this a number of times, and unloose the 

 end tied, and trail it along the grass. After this secure both ends, 

 stretching it as much as practicable, and rub it well with beeswax, and 

 then with a rag saturated with lubricating petroleum ; let it remain a 

 few days, if the weather be dry, then give it another coating, and let it 

 dry, when it will become perfectly pliable. If the weather is unfavorable 

 the drying part of this process may be performed in-doors. Linen lines 

 are sometimes boiled in water, but they should never be soaked in linseed 

 oil, as silk trolling or Salmon lines are prepared, as they become too stiff, 

 and the strength thereby impaired, and they will not last one season. 



Hooks. — The natives of Narragansett, who follow fishing for a living, 

 are presumed to know the exact size and shape of the hook to be used. 

 Limericks are generally preferred, but as different makers have their own 

 numbers, I cannot so designate the size ; but a Bass hook of Limerick 

 make, known at Narragansett as No. 10.0, is generally preferred. The 

 end of the shank, or what is called the head of the hook, should not be 

 flattened, for it cuts the line, which fact you are, no doubt, well aware of. 

 I would recommend galvanized hooks, as they do not rust, and are not 

 easily seen in the water. They can be had at Conroy's, and other tackle 

 stores in New York. Sometimes two hooks are used, then the upper 

 should be the smaller. Five or six dozen hooks are not too many for a 

 season's fishing. The hook is generally seized on the line itself. Gut- 

 snoods are seldom used unless the water is very clear ; two strands of 

 Salmon gut twisted will hold a large Bass. 



Bait. — In the early part of the season the flesh of the lobster is used, 

 stripping the shell off, and cutting the tail part into strips and tying it 

 on the hook ; the remainder is cut up and thrown in to attract the fish. 

 Manhaden or Bony fish, as they are sometime?' called, swim in schools 

 near the surface, and can easily be distinguished by their reddish tint ; 

 and their whereabouts being thus knovra, great numbers are taken in nets. 

 These fish are of the Herring family, rather larger than our Delaware 

 Herring, and contain a great deal of oil. When used for bait, a slice is 

 cut from each side of the backbone, from midway to the tail ; each fiah 

 making two baits four or five inches long and quite flat. The refuse ia 

 cut up and thrown into the sea, and the oil exuding from it being carried 



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