BAITS. 419 



" He may be kept for a long time in ponds or cars ; and fed, 

 and even fatted there. When the cold of winter benumbs 

 him, he refuses to eat any more, and a membrane is observed 

 to form over the vent, and close it. He begins to regain 

 appetite with the return of warmth in the spring. The blossom- 

 ing of the dogwood {cornus florida), early in April, is understood 

 to denote the time of baiting Black Fish. As soon as these 

 flowers unfold, the fishermen proceed with their hooks and 

 lines to the favourite places. If there is no dogwood, a judgment 

 is derived from the vegetation of the chestnut tree {castanea 

 vesca) . The season of baiting is reckoned very favourable until 

 the increasing warmth of the season brings food enough to fill 

 their stomachs, and they thereupon afford less pastime to the 

 sportsman, and less profit to the professor. The people express 

 this sentiment in these coarse rhymes : — 



" ' Wheu chestnut leaves are as big as thumb nail 

 Then bite Black Fish without fail ; 

 But when chestnut leaves are as long as a span, 

 Then catch Black Fish if you can.' 



"The common bait for Black Fish is the soft clam {mya). 

 The soldier-crab, or fiddler [ocypoda), will frequently tempt 

 him when he refuses to taste the other. And he snaps very 

 readily at the large finny worm of the salt-water beaches 

 [nereis), when used on a hook for him. 



" Some persons, who live contiguous to the shores where are 

 situated the rocks frequented by Tautog, invite the fish there 

 by baiting. By this is meant the throwing overboard broken 

 clams or crabs, to induce the Black Fish to renew their visits, 

 and fine sport is procured. 



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