6HEEP6HEAD FISHING. 147 



of fishing for these or any other sea-fish within the 

 inlets! I ascertained, from the continued experi- 

 ments of several years, that they could always be 

 taken at this season, and frequently in January 

 also. The difficulty is to find bait, for neither 

 shrimps nor crabs are then in season. In the case 

 referred to, the difficulty was thus removed the 

 lines were rigged with two hooks ; upon one was 

 placed an oyster, taken fresh from the shell on the 

 other, an oyster boiled. The scent of the first 

 attracted the fish ; but so little tenacity was found 

 in it, that before the fish had taken hold of the hook, 

 the oyster was detached ; but when, encouraged by 

 the taste of the first, the fish advanced to the second, 

 that having acquired toughness from boiling, would 

 adhere until the hook was fairly taken into the 

 fish's mouth. They clearly prefer the uncooked to 

 the cooked oyster ; but the latter was more to the 

 fisherman's purpose. Their fondness for this food 

 suggested the expedient of breaking up the live 

 oysters in the shell, and scattering them in the 

 vicinity of the ground ; also that of letting down 

 the broken oysters in a wicker basket. Each plan 

 is found effectual in attracting the fish. 



The bluffs, in their primitive state, in which trees 

 enough are found fallen, to give the fish both food 

 and protection against their enemies, are only to be 



