452 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and all over the Bahama Banks, 

 along the coast of Florida, and as far north as South Caro- 

 lina. As a dinner fish, it is generally regarded by the epi- 

 cures of New York as superior to the sheepshead the hith- 

 erto aldermanic dinner fish par excellence. 



This beautiful, gamy, and excellent fish is coming north- 

 ward. It is now more numerous annually oif the Carolina 

 shores ; and, like the sierro (cero), cavallo, and bonetta (bo- 

 nito), may soon become- another valuable gem to our coast 

 fishermen, if perchance the menhaden is spared, as the most 

 attractive bait-fish in the world, to allure the rich fishes of 

 that vast area known as the Bahama Banks. 



It is interesting to notice that the debris from the currents 

 around the north of Ireland and the east of Baffin's and 

 Hudson's bays are forming the prospective new continent 

 included in the area of Newfoundland, Anticosti, and the 

 Georgia Shoals, and that the subsidence of the tides about 

 the Bahama Banks and Florida Reef are enlarging the isl- 

 ands. These phenomena neutralize the temperature of the 

 Gulf Stream between the Northern and Southern great 

 banks, so as to form the Atlantic shore between them into 

 the most extensive feeding-ground in the world. 



Fishings for the rod and reel, on the bays and estuaries 

 along the Atlantic coast south of New Jersey, having hith- 

 erto been approximately neglected by lovers of field sports, 

 we hope soon to learn that these Elysian fields and waters 

 for the disciples of Fishrod and Nimrod are being enjoyed 

 in proportion to their attractions. Our wealthy gentlemen 

 who like angling, trolling, and shooting, should erect winter 

 dwellings in Florida, and maintain boats and shooting-boxes 

 there. 



"Oh! dulcet is the poet's rhyme, 



When the angler goes a-trolling ; 

 Dulcet and glad the river's chime, 

 A pa?an in the march of Time ! 

 When the angler goes a-trolling." 



