12 FISHES OF THE EAST ATLANTIC COAST. 



stage of the tide for this mode of fishing is during the last two hours 

 of the flood. As to tackle, some use short rods, some long rods and 

 some, as I have said, no rods at all. The rod, however, should be 

 strong and supple ; all sellers of fishing tackle have assortments of 

 striped bass rods from which the angler can easily get one meeting 

 his ideal of what a rod should be. The line, usually of linen, should 

 be at least two hundred feet long. The sinker gauged according to 

 the force of the water, must keep the line about four feet from the 

 bottom. A leader is always used, made of double gut and arranged 

 to carry one or two hooks. This leader is generally about four feet 

 long ; if one hook is used it may be shortened ; if two hooks, then 

 two pieces of gut are tied below the sinker, one being the first 

 length mentioned, the other two feet in length. What is very es- 

 sential is that the tyings should be as neatly made as possible, as 

 the striped bass is a wary and shy fellow. Now, as to bait, shedder 

 crab is tempting but not serviceable, the swift current* gradually 

 washing it from the hooks. A better bait is the long red sand worm 

 looped on the hook so as to writhe with facility, thus as any one can 

 see, making a most killing lure. These worms are found often nine 

 inches long and as thick as the little finger. The tail of the squid 

 is frequently used in trolling for large bass with heavy tackle. The 

 seasons for trolling are June, July and August, and the places most 

 frequented by bass are along the sedge-covered banks, about sunken 

 meadows and in swift race-ways of the tides. 



The next general Kind of bass fishing is that styled still fishing. 

 Let skill and fancy select the reel accurately balanced, the rod strong 

 and yielding, bright polished guides, large enough to let the line run 

 smoothly, and an evenly twisted line. The angler will need these 

 qualities in his tackle, for long casts are essential to successful still 

 fishing. The leader is the same as is used in trolling, joined to the 

 line by a swivel sinker and holding two "flatted Kirbys," size 0-9, 

 this being in my estimation about the proper hook for still fishing 

 for school-bass. The best bait is the shedder crab, next the shedder 

 lobster, and last but almost equal in efficiency to the other two, the 

 *and worm. 



The striped bas, like its brother the fresh water strped bass, will 



