68 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



No. 3. Bait folded at dotted line and baited on shank-headed 

 hook, with a half hitch of the line cast round the end of 

 bait to prevent it from slipping down and filling the bend 

 of the hook. Some anglers cast one half hitch around the 

 bait just below the head of the hook, and another round 

 the top of the bait ; it forms a more compact bait, and 'bet- 

 ter shape to cast ; but bluefishes are more likely to cut the 

 line oif than when the bait is secured by one half hitch 

 above the hook, as represented. 



No. 4. A thumb-stall, knitted from heavy double and twisted 

 woolen yarn, to be worn on each thumb, to prevent the 

 friction of the line in checking the too swift revolving of 

 the reel. 



No. 5. Chum-spoon for throwing minced fish with. After 

 taking a bait from each side of the menhaden between the 

 first dorsal and the tail, which is done by first scaling the 

 part from which the bait is taken, then chop fine the re- 

 mainder of the fish, head arid all, with a hatchet or bait- 

 knife, and use the spoon to cast it out on the pool to be 

 fished. The spoon is about a foot long. This chopped-up 

 fish is called " chum," and casting it out is called " chum- 

 ming," which is continued until the debris of half a dozen 

 menhaden so scattered on the water produces an oily sur- 

 face, or " slick," as the gaffers call it, extending sometimes 

 half a mile from shore. When bass smell it they approach 

 it, and follow the oily surface toward the point where the 

 chum was thrown in, occasionally finding small bits of men- 

 haden, which the angler on the rocks may see them break 

 water to obtain. Nearer and nearer the bass approach in 

 the path of chum until they arrive within casting distance. 

 The chum should be chopped very fine ; some persons cast 

 in the head of a menhaden whole ; this is bad practice, for 

 it not. only invites sharks and bluefish, but bass feed on it 

 when they might otherwise take the baited hook. 



