194 Sporting Sketches 



squidder, upon feeling a strike, swiftly turns about, 

 slips the line over a shoulder, and runs up the beach 

 till the fish is dragged ashore. For this vigorous 

 sport, the best costume is an old bathing-suit, and, 

 because my feet have suffered from bits of shell 

 and other odds and ends, I believe in old yachting, 

 tennis, or lacrosse shoes. This hint is given solely 

 for the benefit of those who may desire to don fash- 

 ionable foot-gear when the fishing is over. 



And now the trolling, which is by far the most 

 popular form of bluefishing and which each sum- 

 mer gladdens or disappoints thousands who turn 

 for holiday pleasure to the Big Salt-Bath. Once 

 aboard your cat-boat and well off-shore, the all-im- 

 portant thing is to locate fish. Let it be under- 

 stood that the strong, moderately long trolling 

 tackle is supplied with the boat, and we will return 

 to the Osprey, which is lying in the channel await- 

 ing her patrons. 



Over the heaving blue a cloud of snowy terns was 

 wheeling and dropping, and it was easy to guess 

 what massacre of innocents had baited the graceful 

 air-rovers. 



" Look lively ! " roared Cap, pointing at the water 

 where flecks of white suspiciously like fragments of 

 fish were speeding past. My line seemed to be 

 quivering with anticipation, yet we slid on and on 

 with nothing more startling than the continuous 

 drag of the tackle. 



"We've overrun 'em. Yonder they be an 

 'bout we go ! " warmed Cap, and the Osprey wheeled 

 and went driving toward the guidi-ng terns. 



"You sea-jackals you fiends upon angel-wings" 



