A SEASIDE YARN. 45 



of it. On a fish biting, being struck, and making 

 u rash, the stick was instantly cast into the water, 

 where it acted as a float, the line was allowed to run 

 out from the gourd, and the scaly victim dexterously 

 humoured, until pitched high and dry on the sand 

 by the nimble fingers of this ill-favoured but artful 

 old nigger, who managed to catch more than all the 

 rest put together. " So much for fine tackle ! " said 

 I. The greater number of fish caught appeared to 

 be a species of barbel, of very fair size and condition. 



The mouths of rivers, open beaches, and sand-bars, 

 are favourite resorts of the bass, where, feeding in 

 with the coming tide, at times barely covered by the 

 creaming surf, he may be successfully fished for with 

 rod and " ledger," " hand-line," or " ground-bolter." 

 Spoon-bait trolling may also at times be practised, 

 with considerable success, near his haunts, particularly 

 in the evening, when bass are most disposed to feed. 



A rising tide is by far the best for sea-fishing. 

 Each feathered roller of the young flood, as it thunders 

 on the strand, tolls the dinner-bell of our scaly gour- 

 mands the fish, and in they come accordingly. 

 Curious it is to watch the extreme state of bustle, 

 wriggle, and hungry activity that this same flood-tide 

 brings with it. Our submarine acquaintances have 

 evidently decided, one and all, that " the good time 

 coming, boys" is, on this occasion at least, in the pre- 

 sent and not the future tense, and as the first inward 



