Fish and Fishing 



caught, it is certain others are near by. Every 

 angler has his views as to the best baits; spear- 

 ing is the favorite; live killies are excel- 

 Fiyhing^ lent, and cut-up snappers. Fish three 

 feet below the surface and keep the bait 

 moving about; if necessary use a small sinker. 

 Snappers bite vigorously, and for that reason a 

 fine gimp snell should be attached to the hook; 

 the line should be fine, but of good strength, for 

 small and young as this fish is, like its parent, it 

 shows remarkable agility and holding power. 



BONITO AND ALBACORE 



The habits of the bonito are similar to those 

 of the blue-fish, though it is, if possible, even 

 more active and more the embodiment of perpetual 

 and insatiable hunger. They come and leave 

 the coast at the same time, they prey in company 

 upon menhaden and mackerel, and together they 

 are often caught. The two kinds of fish do not 

 mingle, but the regiments rush to battle side by 

 side. The bonito is known as the skip jack, 

 Spanish mackerel, etc., and reaches a length of 

 thirty inches and a weight of ten or twelve pounds. 

 It inhabits the Atlantic Ocean, on both coasts, 

 and is common in the Mediterranean. It oc- 

 curs in the summer between Cape May and Cape 

 Sable, off Cape Hatteras, off Block Island, Long 

 Island, mouth of the Chesapeake, and so down 

 to the Gulf. 



Schools of bonito cause more commotion in 

 70 



