FISHING "DOWN OUTSIDE" 171 



have been caught weighing 150 pounds, but not 

 in Massachusetts Bay of late years. 



A half-mile to the east of Minot's and south- 

 ward to beyond Scituate harbor runs an irregular 

 ridge along the sea bottom at a depth of six to 

 ten fathoms, while to the east and west is deeper 

 water. Something like a half-mile farther east- 

 ward again you will find another, both probably 

 moraines of sand and gravel on fhe sea bottom 

 like those one finds ashore. These ridges the fish 

 seem to frequent rather than the valleys between, 

 and if you will ease your sheets and, setting your 

 boat's prow a little off the wind, drift slowly 

 along these ridges, you will be able to cast your 

 lines among the best of the summer society. The 

 cod go into things only on the ground flood. It 

 is a way substantial citizens have. You will need 

 to let your sinker strike bottom and then lift it a 

 little, but not too far. A greased lead dropped 

 will show you a variety of bottom. Here are 

 rocks, about which especially the cod congregate 

 and where sometimes giant cunners dwell, there 

 is a sandy stretch which is beloved of the big 

 flounders, which when hooked make a gallant 

 though unsteady fight before you get them up. 

 I am always sorry for the flounder. He looks 



