156 THE BLUE-FISH. 



weather is the best, and it is no use fishing unless the 

 fish are on, which means that their visits are variable. 

 At midday, when they generally cease biting, the adven- 

 turous fisherman may land on Raccoon Beach, immor- 

 talized by the genial wit of J. Cypress, jr., and either 

 cook his fish by a fire built from the waifs of the sea, 

 which I decidedly recommend, or get a fashionable din- 

 ner from Dominy or " t'other man " that keeps a hotel 

 there.* At this time it will be found, and I note the fact 

 for the benefit of future generations, that a little liquor 

 containing condensed carbonic acid gas and vulgarly 

 called champagne, with water reduced to the tempera- 

 ture of freezing and commonly called ice, will be pleas- 

 ing to the palate and beneficial to the inner man. In 

 explanation of this episode, I may say I have just been 

 there. 



* Mr. Dominy has gone, but Mr. Royal Sammis keeps a large and faehiorable 

 hotel at Fire Island, which every sportsman should visit at least once in his life, 



