76 The Lair of Something Striped. 



in the runway ? The shadow falls across 

 the bottom, and following it from behind 

 the curtain of fronds there comes forth a 

 fish so stately, so dignified in bearing, 

 that surely he deigns not to notice these 

 lesser fish that flee from his presence. 

 Like a wolf he is. Not in outer likeness 

 perhaps, but in demeanor, and in weight, 

 and that great weight made up of all the 

 sorts of things that swim the tide or crawl 

 the bottom, collected by him and made to 

 form a fish of wondrous strength, with 

 dark straight stripes to mark the shapely 

 sides. A clear stern eye has he, and jaw 

 like any trap. His glistening scales are 

 white where white, and black they are 

 where black. Resting upon broad fins he 

 balances beneath the sea arbor of his lair 

 and shows no fear, but seems to be among 

 familiar surroundings. I '11 quietly toss 

 to him a choice bit of menhaden. It 

 slowly drifting sinks. The film of oil 

 rises. He takes the bait and looks for 

 more. I '11 give it to him. There 's a 

 hook in it, and fastened to the hook 

 600 feet of hard-laid line. Down the 



