FISH: THEIR HABITS AND HAUNTS. 57 



the shrimp or crabs which are borne along 

 by the tide. You should cast the line a little 

 above the rock, and let the bait float with 

 the current past it. Holding the rod with an 

 even, ready hand, you present the bait to 

 his expectant eye in the most natural way ; 

 and to do this should always be the study of 

 the angler who wishes to succeed. 



The best mode of arranging rod-tackle for 

 black-fish is this : attach two plaited gut- 

 snells, one of twelve inches and one of 

 eight inches, to a small brass ring ; put 

 a slide-sinker on the line, and tie to the 

 ring, and all is ready. The slide-sinker 

 is by far the best, as it is frequently 

 desirable to throw from a boat to a sunken 

 rock, and as the sinker lies on the bot- 

 tom the smallest action of the fish at the 

 bait is readily felt. When the black-fish 

 favors you with a bite, give particular atten- 

 tion and pull quickly, for he has a hard, 

 tough mouth ; and if your hook and tackle 



