HANG-DOG LOOK WHEN VANQUISHED. 



97 



KINGFISH TACKLE. 



A. Strong hook, but small ; either the Virginia or Sproat's bend, made of finely tem 

 pered cast-steel, and needle-pointed : a short bend and low point is required, be- 

 cause the mouth is very small ; and a hook of large wire in proportion to the size 

 of the bend is necessary, because of the great strength of the fish. B. Tracing 

 sinker : the size should be graduated to the strength of the tide, hence the combi- 

 nation sinker is the best, because its ponderosity may be increased or diminished 

 without untying the line. C. German silver tip, mounted with carnelian or agate, 

 to screw into duplicate tops of lancewood ; regular size. D. Part of a lancewood 

 top, showing its size, double guide, and line. E. Line, showing how it passes 

 through a jewel-mounted guide. F. Guide, of German silver, bell-metal, or alumi- 

 num. G. Bell-metal guide, attached by the same ring which fastens the carnclian. 

 H. Brass swivel, to one end of which the line is attached, and to the other the lead- 

 er, which is three fourths of a yard in length, and the snell to which the hook is 

 wound is looped to the leader : both leader and snell (or snood) are double silk- 

 worm gut. 



fatigued and ashamed ; not like the striped bass and sheeps- 

 head, who look happy, and seem to say, "Mr. Angler, I guess 

 you had your metal tried in playing me ;" or like a traveler 

 just arrived from Europe, assuming an air of importance, as 

 if condescending to visit America just to see for himself what 

 the Yankees are like. But, though the kingfish looks like a 

 deck-passenger after a long voyage, the angler is sure of one 

 point in his favor, and the cook, as well as the epicure, will 

 be fully assured of another. 



The kingfish shoals on a clean sandy bottom, feeds on crus- 

 tacea, and prefers shrimp, shedder, and soft-shell crabs and 

 1 obsters. Anchor off Barren Island to the north of the edge of 

 the channel, and expect sport. Anchor east of Chesnequack 

 Creek, on the border of the channel between there and Free- 

 port, and in August and September you can not fail of ob- 



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