The Sheepsbead 331 



hand-lines, and looked upon as a mere commercial 

 commodity alongshore ; but it is a game fish in all 

 the term implies when caught with a rod. In 

 the question of tackle there is the greatest differ- 

 ence in taste, and most of the sheepshead are 

 hauled in with heavy lines, the latter being 

 anchored to the ground with a heavy sinker. 

 Other fishermen use tarpon rods, or rods which 

 sell as bait rods, made for use on the fishing 

 steamers which run out of New York to the 

 banks. They are stiff and heavy, to permit the 

 hauling of a dead weight from a considerable 

 depth. My own experience with the sheepshead 

 has been with a light rod not less than eight 

 and a half feet long and a cuttyhunk line as 

 delicate as one's conscience will permit. I took 

 my largest sheepshead on a number nine cutty- 

 hunk line; and as the average fish weighs but 

 six or eight pounds, a very light line can be 

 employed. A sinker is necessary at times. I 

 have fished at the mouth of the St. Johns, where 

 my heavy sinker seemed to be always on the sur- 

 face; but there is a lull in the current between 

 tides which is a good time to begin to fish. 

 Again, the bait can be cast up the current and 

 allowed to drift down. There is more true 



