Striped Bass Fishing 



" A little more to the left, sir," he says ; 

 and as the fisherman inclines his pole and 

 turns the fish's head, his gaff is extended 

 down, under and across the fish's body ; a 

 rapid jerk upward and backward, and it 

 sinks into his silver belly. He is raised 

 from the water, convulsively hugged by 

 Tom, who reaches for the rod, and all of 

 us hurry inshore to inspect and gloat over 

 him. " What does he weigh, Tom ? " 

 And with judicial eye Tom measures and 

 lifts him. " I say, thirty pounds."- -"Well, 

 I think thirty-five," says the fisherman, 

 the inexperienced looker-on being under 

 the conviction that he should weigh fifty, 

 at least, and impressed with a sense of awe 

 his huge mouth and head when seen 

 for the first time thus affecting one. It 

 is now too dark to be worth while to fish 

 longer, and we are in fact a little eager to 

 get home and exhibit our catch. So Tom 

 puts him in the basket, covers him care- 

 fully with fresh seaweed, recklessly throws 

 all his cut-up bait for chum, and we start 

 for the house, Tom gladly lugging his 

 heavy basket for the glory and triumph 

 he will have on exhibiting him. The 

 " chummer " becomes part and parcel of 

 his " boss," participates in all his excite- 

 ments, honors, and disappointments, and 



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