DRUM FISHING. 127 



the most tempting baits you can offer; at other 

 times they are in better humor. As a general rule, 

 with five lines in your boat, you may count on fif- 

 teen or twenty fish as the result of a day's sport. 

 Occasionally, you have memorable luck sixty- 

 three were taken during the present season, by a 

 boat with seven lines, and I once knew a boat 

 with ten lines to take as many as ninety-six ; the 

 best success I have met with, personally, was to 

 take forty, to three lines eighteen fish fell to my 

 share of the sport; my two oarsmen took the re- 

 mainder. Thirty fish were all that the boat could 

 conveniently contain ; her gunwale was but a few 

 inches above the water, and we slung the ten, 

 (which were de trop) alongside, by a rope. In this 

 situation we were attacked by sharks. These 

 " grim companions," would range up alongside, 

 and make a rush at them to cut them off; and we 

 were compelled to beat them off with boat-hooks. 

 A little more boldness in their attack, and we must 

 have fallen victims ; for a single blow from their 

 tails would have filled our overloaded boat. As it 

 happened we were unattended by any other boat 

 which could have rendered assistance, and were 

 full three miles from shore. In the sport of this 

 day, my gloves were torn into shreds by the fric- 

 tion of the line, and my fingers so blistered by 



