86 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK 



At the Rancocas bridge, a few miles above Philadelphia; some 

 years ago, a party of three anglers, on a day in the latter part 

 of June, took fifteen dozen Rockfish, from ten to fourteen 

 inches long, with the pearl minnow. 



In strong tideways, or deep water, the last half of the ebb, 

 and the first half hour of the flood tide is generally consi- 

 dered the best time for taking this fish. In the shallow bays 

 and sounds extending along our coast, there are thoroughfares 

 between the low grassy islands, which are almost dry at low 

 water. Here crabs are found in great numbers, and the Rock- 

 fish come in with the flood tide in search of them. In such 

 places, the last half of the flood and high water are the proper 

 times. The most famous place along the coast for catching 

 these fish, is Narragansett Bay. I have heard stories o^ the 

 Bass fishing there, that it is not prudent to repeat. 



The American Angler's Guide, by J. J. Brown, Esq., of 

 New York, has an excellent article on Striped Bass fishing in 

 the waters around New York. 



Frank Forester, in speaking of this fish, says, ''The fly 

 will take them brilliantly, and at the end of three hundred 

 yards of line, a twelve-pound Bass will be found quite suffi- 

 cient, to keep even the most skilful angler's hands, as full as 

 he can possibly desire." The author in question must have 

 delighted in " magnificent distances" ; for a line of three hun- 

 dred yards, with a Bass at the end of it, would certainly be 

 " playing at long taw," and is suggestive of " shooting with a 

 long bow." Most anglers will kill a Bass of any size, and 

 not give him fifty yards of line. Frank Forester's idea of 

 trolling for Rockfish, as some anglers fish for Pike, with a 

 leaded gorge hook, from the shore, even if successful, would 

 be dull sport compared with the usual mode of taking them. 

 It would moreover be degrading to the bold Rockfish, to 

 place him in the same category with a sneaking Pike. 



