Striped Bass fishing 



of the water for some feet is agitated 

 by a mass of scintillating silver bodies, 

 which disappear as quickly as they came 

 to the surface ; and it is evident that 

 some prowling monster has suddenly ap- 

 peared to their keen visions, and they have 

 rapidly ascended so rapidly that the im- 

 petus carries them into the air, whence 

 they swiftly return to their own element, 

 to dart shoreward into shoal water, where 

 their enemy dare not pursue. 



Far otherwise is it when the wind has 

 been blowing a steady blast from the ocean, 

 landward. Harder and still harder pound 

 the rising breakers on rocks, seaweed, and 

 bottom ; soon the succeeding waves are 

 churned into foam, and the clayey bottom 

 is washed into the undertow, until for 

 hundreds of yards from shore the water 

 becomes white and clouded. Now the 

 poor crabs, shrimps, lobsters, eels, and all 

 crawling life are washed backward and 

 forward until they surrender all attempts 

 to gain safety or shelter, and are soon at 

 the mercy of every wave. This is the 

 long awaited opportunity ; and now the 

 timid, nervous, shrinking bass becomes 

 bold and venturesome, and will follow 

 each wave into shallow places, with the 

 assurance that no eye can see his move- 



1*8 



