84 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE 



"We might get a striped bass," says the fresh water 

 enthusiast; "I've heard that the salt water striped bass 

 takes the troll the same as black bass in the lakes." 



"But, not here," says the Captain, "nor eny where about 

 here. We ketch th' big striped bass in th' surf, casting 

 with shedder crab bait, but never on th' troll, though, 

 of course, th' bluefish will take a troll ef it be a imitation 

 squid." 



"Very funny," says the lake angler; "I've always heard 

 that striped bass were caught on the troll as well as in still 

 fishing." 



"Yes, that be so," responds the bayman, "but it be in 

 th' ocean or in large rivers, like the Hudson and East 

 rivers, an' th' troll beant like yourn; it be a feathered hook 

 with white worms a stringin' out way behind an' no spoon. 

 They ketch some fine bass this way in th' big rivers and 

 th' ocean in th' spring and fall, but never here in this bay; 

 so I'd advise yo' teh take in your line an' save time by a 

 riggin' up fer bluefish as I tell yer, for we hain't got much 

 more'n a half hour of proper water teh- fish in when we 

 git teh th' place." 



The sloop is now out in the open bay, drifting along un- 

 der full sail, aided more by the outgoing tide than by the 

 calm midsummer day's balmy breeze. 



"But, I'll tell yer," says Captain Brant to the fresh water 

 expert as a sort of apology, observing that his modest 

 objection to the troll has hurt the feelings of the angler. 

 "I'll tell yer what yer kin do, mister, you ken take this 'ere 

 crab net and hev a pile o' fun scoopin' up a dozen er so of 

 fat hardshell crabs as is driftin' by; they'll be fine teh 

 bile fer supper. See 'em! They go by thick now." 



And Pierce hurriedly hauls in his bass troll and is soon 

 in the best kind of good spirits with himself and everybody 

 aboard as he dips for the crabs, missing fully nine out of 

 every ten that float by. 



"Now, genelmen," pipes the bayman, "I says as how 

 t'would be wise teh git yer bluefish tackle ready; we're 

 nearin' th' hole, an' there beant much time left. Yer mus' 

 be right smart ef yer wan' a fish er two on this tide. I 

 advise yer not t' bother wi' yer fine things teh-day, but jes 



?'t out them han'-lines an' "haul in th' fish sailor fashin. 

 er've ony got a few minutes afore th' tide'll be all out 

 an' th' fish gone until teh-morrow." 



"No, Captain Brant," I say to him, "we have told you 

 all along that we are going to take our fish on fishing tackle 

 or not at all; so, don't mention hand-lines again. I would 

 rather take one bluefish on the rod than forty on the hand- 

 line, and my friends all feel the same about this. What, 

 pray, is the difference, Captain, in us losing here one or 

 two fish, and in your leaving fifty or so to rot on the sod 

 bank when you make home? You left a fine lot there 

 yesterday, you say, and we'd leave many there to-morrow 

 if we use the hand-lines. No, 'tis better to leave the fish here 

 alive, if we can't catch 'em with honest tackle that affords 



