SHEEPSUEAD FISHING. 145 



says, " first catch your fish before you cook it," 

 and we shall proceed, in due order, to do as it 

 directs. 



They are exceedingly choice in their feeding 

 taking no bait but shell-fish. Their favorite food is 

 the young oyster, which, under the form of barnacle, 

 they crush with their strong teeth. Of course, they 

 frequent those shores that abound with fallen trees. 

 On the Florida coast, they are taken in great quanti- 

 ties among the mangrove-trees, whose roots, grow- 

 ing in the salt water, are covered with barnacles. 

 Formerly, they were taken in considerable numbers 

 among our various inlets. "Wherever there were 

 steep bluffs, from which large trees had fallen in 

 the water, there they might confidently be sought. 

 But as these lands have been cleared for the culture 

 of sea-island cotton, the trees have disappeared, and 

 with them the fish ; and it has been found necessary 

 to renew their feeding-grounds by artificial means. 

 Logs of pine or oak are cut, and framed into a sort 

 of hut, without a roof. It is floored, and built up 

 five or six feet high ; then floated to the place 

 desired and sunk in eight feet of water, by casting 

 stones or live-oak timber within. As soon as the 

 barnacles are formed, which will happen in a few 

 weeks, the fish will begin to resort to the ground. 

 It is sometimes requisite to do more, before you caa 



