Bait Angling for Common Fishes 



tunity to capture their prey. It is next to 

 impossible to distinguish them from the 

 sandy bottom when they are lying still. 

 They are found mostly in the bays and 

 bayous where the bottom is muddy and 

 grassy, but it is not unusual to find them 

 in the shoal water along the sandy beaches 

 of the coast and bays. Very shoal water 

 seems to be particularly attractive, and they 

 are often found at the water's edge, em- 

 bedded in the sand, with only their eyes in 

 view. When alarmed or in the pursuit of 

 their prey their movements are very swift, 

 and the quickness with which they bury 

 themselves in the sand is quite wonderful. 

 Plaice may be taken from the early part 

 of June till September and October; in 

 Florida they are taken throughout the year, 

 but are most plentiful in the summer 

 months. In Jacksonville they are com- 

 monly taken in company with bream, black 

 bass and other fresh-water fish in winter 

 as well as in summer. They feed on small 

 fish, shrimps, crabs, squid, and are fre- 



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