Fish and Fishing 



attach the hooks quite close to the sinker and 

 two or three hooks may be used, preferably No. 

 8 to 10 sprout. 



By far the best bait in salt water is the shedder 

 crab, but sand worms, killies, clams, or even 

 pieces of fish will take them. Many anglers use 

 a long-shanked hook, which is more convenient to 

 hold the fish from wiggling, and makes it easier 

 to take the fish from the hook. 



When the fish bites, strike hard, and if hooked, 

 lose no time in bringing it up over the side of the 

 boat. After it is boated, get a good tight grip on 

 the body, with the help of the line; then slap the 

 tail smartly on the edge of the boat, stunning the 

 fish. Then take out the hook. Another species 

 of eel is called the conger-eel; it sometimes 

 grows to a weight of thirty pounds. It is a 

 savage brute, with long jaws lined with 

 F?sh s ^arp teeth, and it snaps viciously at 

 everything in sight. The best way to 

 kill it is to rap it sharply on the head with a stout 

 stick or piece of iron. The eels are all very 

 palatable eating, especially those caught in clear, 

 running water; the flavor is sweet, and the flesh 

 nutritious. If well cooked, either boiled, fried, 

 or stewed, or even pickled and salted, they make 

 a savory dish. 



THE CATFISH OR BULL-HEAD 



The right name of this popular and well-known 

 fish is the horned pout, and it is of a wide distribu- 

 94 



