156 POINT JUDITH 



and if you are not on the watch will lift you in their 

 embrace and fling you torn and wounded down 

 among the sharp-pointed rocks. You must wear 

 water-proof clothes, and while you keep your eye 

 on the line you must not neglect the inrolling swell, 

 but avoid or brace yourself to meet its shock. And 

 when the bass seizes your bait, and you have fixed 

 the hook by one sharp blow, you must be gentle 

 and moderate, only using severe measures where 

 they are absolutely necessary. If the blue-fish 

 comes, and he does not carry away your hook at the 

 first snatch, reel him in as quickly as his indomitable 

 pluck and vigor will permit. He is not game when 

 you are bass-fishing. If the ungainly flounder, ex- 

 hibiting unexpected activity, shall chase and grasp 

 your bait, lug him out by main force, treating him, 

 though excellent to eat,like the vulgar commoner he is. 

 When the day is advanced, and the game has 

 grown w r ary, you may rest ; and looking out to sea, 

 perchance behold the blue-fish chase the menhaden 

 and the porpoise devour the blue-fish, and the 

 thresher shark plough his way through schools of 

 lesser creatures, killing with blows of his powerful 

 tail, and then devouring his prey at his leisure. 

 You may listen to the " wild waves singing," and 

 watch the continual change of the sky and water, 

 enjoying the refreshing breeze and pure air, or 

 amuse yourself by throwing in the head of a men- 

 haden, and noting how quickly the bass that refuse 

 your baft, will strike with a great whirl at the float- 

 ing object. 



