294 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



cupy the same feeding-grounds, and often rise to the fly or 

 take the bait. The cisco of the great lakes resembles an ale- 

 wife, and sometimes attains the weight of three pounds. 



THE SHINER. 



This tiny white fish, with scales of metallic lustre, is from 

 two to four inches long, and the best bait-fish which belongs 

 to the fresh waters of America, where it is found in most of 

 the brooks, rivers, and lakes of the north temperate zone. It 

 is a greedy biter, and with a bit of angle-worm covering the 

 point of a minnow-hook it is taken as fast as it can be drawn 

 out with a supple willow wand, While fishing in rivers for 

 black bass, I have moored one end of my scull-boat at the 

 shore, and sat my waiter at catching shiners at the shore-end 

 of the boat, while I took black bass with the shiner-bait at 

 the other end. 



THE SHINER. 



As a pan-fish, it is the sweetest, most juicy, and delicate of 

 any fish except the golden mullet ; and when fried to a crisp 

 in olive oil or fresh butter, it forms a .mouthful more delicious 

 than any other pan-fish. Many epicures in country places 

 appreciate the delicious shiner ; but as it is too insignificant 

 in size to form an object of commerce, inhabitants of cities 

 are innocent of any knowledge of this succulent luxury. But 

 it is as a bait-fish that I would recommend the shiner, and a 

 bait-can is necessary for keeping it alive. 



SECTION FIFTH. 



BAIT-CAN AND BAITS. 



A simple tin can or pall, large enough to contain from two 



