SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 333 



up the creek. I had brought with me a twelve-ounce fly- 

 rod, made of greenheart by Scribner, of St. John, with 

 which I had killed many heavy Trout in New Brunswick. It 

 was a spliced rod about eleven feet long, and carried a click 

 reel with fifty yards of silk line, a six-foot leader, and a large 

 red-and- white Bass-fly. The major was using one of my chum 

 rods, and dropped his hook over the stern. P. sent his big 

 hook and half a Mullet well out into the stream, and I cast 

 about thirty feet astern, sinking the fly six inches in the 

 water, and then drawing it up this for some time without 

 result. Now the major hooks what he supposes to be a Bass, 

 but it proves to be one of those active sea Cat-fishes, some- 

 times called from its high dorsal fin, "The Gaff-topsail" 

 a clean-built, handsome fish, blue and white in color, and 

 fighting long and hard on the hook. Like all the Cats, it is 

 covered with a nasty slime, which adheres to hands and 

 tackle; and it is also armed with sharp and poisonous serrated 

 bones in the pectoral fins, which inflict painful wounds on 

 the incautious. 



"When these Cats appear, it is a sign of warm weather," 

 said P., as he unhooked the fish; then he slashed it open with 

 his knife, bringing out a bunch of eggs, in form and color 

 like golden grapes; "I always kill them, so that they can't 

 bite again," said he. 



Judge: "Is it good eating?" 



"Well, we don't eat them, we have so many better fish; 

 out the meat looks white and nice enough." 



Presently I have a rise, and hook a Salt-water Trout of 

 three pounds, which gave very good play for five minutes, 

 bending my pliant rod till P. declared it must break; but the 

 fish was brought safely to the net. At the next cast I got a 

 four-pounder; while playing it, the major was engaged in 

 combat with a good Bass, which he boated a six-pounder. 

 "That's the kind I want; no more Cat-fish for me," said he. 

 My fish was saved also. 



