208 STRIPED BASS. 



rible stories whispered with bated breath, of men in 

 bathing drawn down by even the smaller of the monsters. 

 Though there must be something in it, I doubt if this is all 

 true, notwithstanding the squid is ugly enough for any- 

 thing. With us the squid or cuttle-fish is harmless except 

 to the sight, and in his native element is glad to hide him- 

 self in the obscurity of a dark liquid that he has the power 

 of emitting, when pursued. The only bone in his body is 

 in the middle of his stomach, and what it is put there 

 for unless to give him an accurate idea of indigestion, no 

 one knows. For the present it is enough to say he is 

 good bait, although not handsome, and may be used 

 either in trolling or still fishing. 



Another excellent bait early in the Fall, although no- 

 where mentioned in the books, and, I believe, my own 

 discovery, is the scollop. My attention was first called to 

 it by some men opening them for the table and throwing 

 the many-eyed skins into the water. The bass collected 

 at once and rushed eagerly to the very dock, almost 

 springing out of water to seize the coveted morsel. 

 Upon this hint I acted, and by great care, for the scol- 

 lop is extremely tender, and by passing the hook several 

 times through the skin, I succeeded in keeping the bait 

 on while I cast very gently. My success was astonish- 

 ing, and then and afterward I took the largest fish 

 under the most unfavorable circumstances with it, when 

 they would not touch the most tempting crab. The 

 heart of the scollop is pearly white, and is attractive and 

 so good that no wonder the bass should be crazy for it. 

 It is difficult to manage and easily washed off the hook, 

 but if any fisherman shall see bass, as I have often, lying 



