The Gray Snapper 39 



soft and pliable, having been well stretched before 

 and after use. To this he attached a leader of 

 very fine and pliable copper wire over four feet 

 in length, and upon the long-shanked 6/0 steel 

 Limerick hook, impaled through the eyes six or 

 seven " hard heads " ; then with a graceful move- 

 ment he cast the bait, so that it sank gently 

 eight or ten feet from the wreck where the gray 

 snappers were poising. It had no attractions for 

 the small fry which rushed at it, nosed it, and 

 retired. Then Paublo began a manipulation of 

 the line, imparting to the bunch of silver upon 

 the bottom a tremulous motion. The bait ap- 

 peared to be a small school of sardines feeding ; 

 the simulation was marvellous, and had immediate 

 effect. A large snapper suddenly caught sight 

 of the struggling mass and turning gracefully, 

 moved forward, stopping within an inch of the 

 lure, backing water with its caudal fin, its dorsal 

 rigid, its eyes probably blazing. 



Breathing hard, Paublo whispered, " Did yo' 

 see datcher snapper, mawster ? " 



Again the bait rested, as the suspicious fish 

 backed away and the long wire disappeared in 

 the sand. The snapper now swam around, keep- 

 ing its eyes upon it, moving nearer and nearer 



