DEVIL FISHING. 97 



bank lying* to the northwest of Pinckney Island: and 

 onr sportsman towed the shark over to Bay Point, 

 and landed it on the beach. I saw it after it was 

 landed. It was a formidable-looking creature, 

 measuring twelve feet in length ! 



Having ascertained the fact that the sharks 

 attack the devil-fish when wounded, we frequently 

 prepare ourselves with chain-hooks, and lines, and 

 throwing our baits overboard, troll for sharks, 

 while we are being; drawn about by devil-fish! 

 That fish is thus made to act as a decoy for the 

 sharks, and I have known five sharks taken before 

 the devil-fish was mastered. 



The porpoises do not appear to attack the devil- 

 fish (though I have known them to attack a gram- 

 pus whale, and drive him ashore). They seem, 

 however to avoid each other, and it is a common 

 remark among our sportsmen, that when the shoals 

 of porpoises are frequent in our waters, the devil- 

 fish are scarce ! 



Since, among the readers of this book oi 

 " Sports, 55 there may be some who would desire to 

 peruse a scientific description of the devil-fish, I 

 have subjoined one, taken from the latest authority, 



