Bait and Grounds 413 



Mullet is the popular bait for tarpon and a 

 killing lure for almost any fish which preys 

 upon its kind. At Fernandina, Florida, fiddler- 

 crab is a valued bait, and I often drew on the 

 preserves on the way to the fort, where there 

 was always an endless supply, the struggling 

 crab being a dainty that drum, sheepshead, chan- 

 nel-bass, or sea-trout rarely refuse. At Aransas 

 Pass, shrimp, taken with a fine-mesh cast-net, is 

 a favorite bait for channel-bass, Spanish mack- 

 erel, and others. 



In New England clam bait, both hard and soft, 

 is popular, and the title " high-tide clam-digger " 

 was a term of derision applied by an old beach- 

 comber of my fishing acquaintance to indicate 

 the stupidity of a "tenderfoot." Menhaden is 

 excellent bait for various fishes in this region. In 

 the Chesapeake crabs are so plentiful that they 

 are often used, the common edible crab preferred, 

 and various shellfish. 



In California waters baits of several kinds 

 are used. Many fishermen use the meat of the 

 beautiful shell abalone, Haliotis, which is tough 

 and eaten only after being vigorously pounded. 

 The California crayfish, Palinurus, ranks next, 

 and is a killing lure, but already it is so rare 



