PREPARING TO CAPTIVATE. 



67 



ther artistic nor in good taste to cover the rod several inches 

 with bright metal for attaching the reel. Whether double 

 guides or patent ones are preferred, carnelian or agate make 

 good lining and tip. The tip should be formed with a screw 

 to fit several top joints. German silver, brass, bell-metal, or 

 any other metal, hard and still malleable enough, and which 

 will not oxydize in a saline atmosphere, form good mount- 

 ings. A solid butt, without elaborate and heavy mountings 

 to hold a reel, is preferable. If the line does not run on jew- 

 els, bell-metal is the next best material, except it be the alu- 

 minum a light metal of new invention in combination and 

 manner of manufacture which is 'lighter than any other 

 metal, and is said never to oxydize. Our fishing-tackle man- 

 ufacturers are making trout-reels of it, and, to judge from ap- 

 pearance and recommendation, I should decide that it is the 

 best metal ever employed for reels and mountings of fishing- 

 rods. 



As no sinker is used for assistance in casting menhaden 

 bait, and as the striped bass are extremely knowing, the ne- 

 cessity for a clean rig, and nothing to check the impetus of 

 the bait, make up desiderata never to be lightly regarded by 

 the bass angler. 



BAITS, CHUM-SPOOX, AND THUMB-STALL. 



No. 1. The menhaden Alosa menhaden a species of her- 

 ring used for bait, and showing the mark, back of which a 

 bait is taken on each side. 



No. 2. Bait cut from No. l,the knife being drawn through 

 the flesh side at dotted line, but not so deep as to part the 

 skin, but to facilitate folding like 3. 



