American Game-Fishes 



after a fruitless hour of fishing, had a trout 

 dash more than once between my very 

 knees at the lure dangling in the water, 

 while I was adjusting my disarranged cast- 

 ing-line. Probably no fish better exem- 

 plifies this variation than the bluefish. At 

 some seasons hunger or excitement seems 

 to deprive them of all caution ; and they 

 will contend with insane eagerness for any 

 lure be it white rag, pine stick, or what 

 not which may be dragged after a sail- 

 ing-boat. A week later, perhaps, the 

 most appetizing morsels which the angler's 

 ingenuity can devise tempt them in vain, 

 if the water be clear enough for them to 

 see the line. Every experienced angler 

 for striped bass can tell remarkable tales 

 of the cunning with which the bluefish 

 seizes every piece of chum that is meant 

 for his betters, but absolutely refuses to 

 touch a baited hook unless he can first 

 bite off the line. I have again and again 

 had this fish a synonym for senseless 

 voracity in plain view pick the bait 

 piecemeal from my hooks. This increase 

 in wariness greatly enhances the sport. 

 Trolling or " drailing " for bluefish is 

 an exhilarating frolic ; but matching and 

 outwitting their cunning with fine tackle 

 is really game-fishing. 

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