f)t) DEVIL FISHING. 



rained in torrents. After it ceased, returned to 

 Bay Point without seeing any more fish, though I 

 traversed the ground on which they were usually 

 found. It seems to me that I have this day seen 

 twenty different fish ; but their stay at the surface 

 is very short shorter, I think, than when observed 

 later in the season. 



Saturday, 22d June. Reached Hilton Head 

 beach at high water. Two devil-fish were playing 

 off the landing, not thirty yards from shore. Put 

 off after them ; the noise of the oars (the water being 

 shallow) seemed to alarm them, and they disap- 

 peared. In a short time, some others made their 

 appearance, coming down with the tide from Skull 

 Creek. Did not succeed in calculating their visits 

 to the surface so accurately as to get a throw of the 

 harpoon. After seVen or eight fish had passed 

 down with the first ebb, none others appearing, 

 concluded to anticipate them by rowing up to the 

 flats under Pinckney Island. Did not find them 

 there returned to the beach in front of the avenue 

 at Hilton Head remained there beyond the time 

 of tide at which they rose the day before they did 

 not appear. Coasted down to Pope's, and seeing 

 nothing, returned to Bay Point at half ebb, sorely 

 disappointed in my cruise. 



Doubtless it is the state of the weather which has 



