DEVIL FISHING. il 



sarily. Why will you throw away Dr. Muhlenburg's 

 instructions in this manner ? Now, boys, to your 

 oars.' 



" A few brisk strokes brought us in the midst of the 

 play-ground of the devil-fish, over a bank two or three 

 fathoms deep. No part of their bodies was, however, to 

 be seen ; nothing but their broad, dingy flaps, their cop- 

 pered edges glancing to the sun, as they rose and sunk 

 in graceful parabolas through the turbid brine. All 

 besides was dark : it was not possible to know where to 

 strike. Their motions, too, were so rapid and disorderly, 

 and withal transiently perceptible, that it required our 

 utmost efforts to shift our boat into available positions. 

 But our facile princeps the master-spirit of fishermen 

 was at the bow. An opportunity at last offered, and 

 away went the harpoon, and, in a twinkling, the smallest 

 fish disappeared : he had felt the touch of its keen edge, 

 and instantly took fright. Another followed his example, 

 leaving the bank in possession of one, who now seemed 

 concerned only to show how swiftly and nimbly he could 

 acquit himself. Instead of emerging, as before, at inter- 

 vals of a few yards, he took reaches of twenty or thirty 

 at a time not one of them on the same line with another 

 gyrating, as he went, into the most fantastic attitudes. 

 At last, the surface was all quiet; every one held his 

 breath. A heavy whirl appeared at the head of the boat 

 what did it mean ? But Piscator knew, and the harpoon 

 once more took flight, and descending five or six feet into 



