Striped Bass. 



455 



FISHING FROM THE STANDS. 



formidable, — for your big fellows generally travel in threes. Escape 

 is impossible, and his only recourse is to hold on tight and take his 

 ducking with what equanimity he can command, when, if he be sen- 

 sible, he will watch his opportunity and make for the shore, a wetter 

 and a wiser man. Seth Green got caught in this way, on this very 

 rock from which we are now fishing, and retired drenched to the 

 skin, but only for a time; the bass were biting freely, and the "great 

 father of fishes," procuring a rope, lashed himself to the seat, and, in 

 spite of the warnings and remonstrances of his friends, continued his 

 sport, with the waves occasionally making a break clear over his 

 head. Perry tells us this story in the intervals between chopping 

 and chumming, and we notice that the pluck of the old man elicits 

 from him an admiration which no amount of piscicultural skill could 

 have commanded. 



Another strike ! This fellow betrays himself at the very start, 

 for we see the cloven hoof, or rather the forked tail, which denotes 

 that pirate of the deep, blue sea — the bluefish, and we bring him to 

 gaff as soon as possible, using him rather .oughly, for he is seldom 

 alone, and his companions in iniquity are apt to cut him loose by 

 striking at any bit of bait that may have run up on the line, or even 

 at the line itself as it cuts rapidly through the water. 



IVrry opens this fish and brings us his paunch to examine ; in it, 

 besides many pieces of chum, an- three hooks — one of them, with 



