246 Life in the Open 



and repel the waves, the feeding and spawning ground 

 of the bass. In one of the little bays formed by the 

 kelp we anchored, hauling aboard one of the great 

 leaves for the purpose, which could be tossed over at 

 short notice. It is a sport in which the angler must at 

 times let patience possess his soul, and I have sat for 

 hours feeling the throbbing line without a strike ; but 

 this is the exception. Our line, baited with a seven- 

 pound whitefish, was tossed over and allowed to sink 

 within four feet of the bottom, and with a turn about 

 the rowlock we waited, fishing betimes for sheepshead 

 with the rod, a gamy creature ranging up to fifteen 

 pounds. 



So engrossed were we in this sport, taking the big 

 red- and black-banded fellows as fast as they could be 

 fairly and honestly played, that the object of our trip 

 was all but forgotten. But suddenly the sheepshead 

 ceased biting, there was an ominous pause ; it was 

 either sharks or bass, but which ? I reeled in my line 

 and took the bass line in hand. The current running 

 to the south played upon the line with a gentle musical 

 rhythm. Now a marvellous jellyfish fouled it, and was 

 rent asunder, or a mysterious olive-green kelp frond 

 swept along like a living thing, its dim shape faintly 

 outlined against the blue. 



The ocean was as smooth as glass, the wind gods 

 were resting, and the only break on the clear surface 

 were the fins of yellowtail, that glistened in the sun- 

 light as they patrolled the kelp, or the fairy sails of the 



