106 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATEKS. 



There, anchor'd at the dawn of day, 

 They rob the marine banks of prey. 



The sea bass is not strictly a vegetarian, though it visits 

 vegetable banks to spawn and feast upon the numerous small 

 Crustacea which hide amongst sea-weed. It occupies a re- 

 spectable place in the culinary calendar, and is preferred to 

 cod for a chowder. It is eminently a coast fish, and seldom 

 ventures far above the estuaries, bays, and back-waters, or 

 bayous. The sea bass, porgee, and tautog banks along the 

 coast of N~ew Jersey form one of the attractions of Long 

 Branch, and they are a real blessing to the members of the 

 hand-line-committee, who realize in them a cheap relaxation 

 from business and the lassitude caused by too constant work 

 in a city during the heat of summer. 



THE SEA BASS. 



Several excursion steamers run every alternate day to the 

 Fishing Banks, where they make a day's excursion for half a 

 dollar, and whence often on the evening of the same day each 

 passenger returns with three dollars worth of sea bass. A 

 large business is done throughout the summer and autumn 

 in the capture and sale of sea bass. 



The meat of the sea bass laminates in compact flakes, not 

 so soft and watery as the cod, but more succulent and deli- 

 cate in taste. This fish usually runs from three to twelve 

 pounds, and is what angler's term a bottom-feeding fish, con- 

 sequently not an especial favorite with the disciples of rod 



