134 THE JERSEY COAST. 



closed, the canvas-backs and red-heads have been 



scarce." 



" What do you mean by the inlet's closing ?" 

 " There used to be several inlets across the beach 



one about ten miles below and then we had 



splendid oysters and ducks plenty. There came a 



tremendous storm one winter that washed up the 



* 



sand and closed the inlet, and so it has remained 

 ever since." 



" Can't they be dredged out ?" 



"The people would pay a fortune to any man 

 who did that, if he could keep it open. In the fall, 

 we go after ducks twenty miles when we want any 

 great shooting; but we kill a good many round, 

 here." 



" How do you catch the blue-fish that you spoke 

 of?" 



" They chase the bony-fish along the shore, and 

 when they come close in, you can stand on the 

 beach, and throw the squid right among them. I 

 took sixteen hundred pounds in half a day." 



" Phew !" was the universal chorus. 



" 'Lige was there, and he knows whether that is 

 true. They averaged fifteen pounds apiece. On 

 those occasions, the only question is whether you 

 know how to land them, and can do it quick 

 enough." 



" Your hands must have been cut to pieces." 



" Not at all ; you'll never cut your hands if you 

 don't let the line slip." 



" Did you run up ashore with them ? " 



