124: FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



awaiting company, but nearly all the trolling fleet had sailed 

 hours before, and the lowness of the ebb tide warned us not 

 to delay. We therefore wore away, passing between Barren 

 Island and Rockaway Beach, amid shrieks of gulls and flights 

 of duck, the sun lighting up the beach and the breakers, and 

 rendering them scintillant as they flashed upon us between 

 the clouds of fog .which at fitful turns enveloped us. Pres- 

 ently a gentle, fog-subduing warmth, with wind freshening, 

 made our jolly craft dance along, and all nature appeared de- 

 lightsome. 



" On the surface ranging, boys, 

 We'll beat from bay to bay ; 

 Sea and water changing, boys, 

 It's the angler's way : 

 So we troll, 

 One and all, 

 And cheerily, cheerily pass the day." STODDART. 



We passed on near the Black Warrior, whose battered 

 wreck was lifted silently above the waves as a warning to im- 

 potent man against rashness. Toward the Narrows and the 

 light-ship the fleet of trollers were gayly tacking and cross- 

 ing each other's wakes hither and thither over the bluefish 

 shoals, so that, 



" Why sure, thought they, 



The devil's to pay, 

 'Mongst folks above the water. " 



Soon we joined the merry fleet. Our trolls had been put 

 out as we entered the bay, and our outriggers from each side 

 of the craft, a little aft of midships, consisting of stiff poles 

 with a line attached to the end of each, and a troll at the oth- 

 er end, but the line so short that the troll skittered on the top 

 of the waves. A check line was fastened to the main , one, 

 with its end in the boat, so as to draw the main line in with- 

 out moving the hoop-pole rod to which it was attached. In 

 addition to the two outriggers we had four trolling-lines out, 

 the ends of which were fastened to the taffrail of the boat. 

 'Captain Morrison took the first fish, a ten-pounder. " Small,'' 

 said the captain. Presently a whirl was made at one of my 



