316 FLUKE, PLAICE, TURBOT, ETC. 



are plenty, and anglers seek the cool retreat of the sea-shore 

 at Shrewsbury and other places, that these fish are mostly taken. 

 There the sportsman, standing with his rod in hand or his line 

 and squid thrown over his arm, occasionally casting and draw- 

 ing, and when he hopes to take a ten pound Basse, he is obliged 

 often to be satisfied with the more humble flounder. 



Hope reigns for ever in the angler's breast, 

 He never is, but always to be blest. 

 His largest fish lies hidden in the deep, 

 Often he takes him in his dreamy sleep ; 

 But wakes, and opes his ever eager eyes, 

 And finds the game is yet to be his prize. 

 The liveliest fish that weighs a pound or two, 

 Is small to that within his fancy's view ; 

 Ten pounds, at least, he always hopes to reach, 

 And land his scaly friend upon the beach. 



Those who wish to fish for him, may take him with the above 

 description of tackle, with crab and killy bait, on good sized 

 kirby or Limerick hook, say about No. 1, or 2, salmon, is 

 necessary. Bait with a good sized piece of crab or a killy, and 

 when the tide is coming in you will not fail to catch many of 

 them, and may be a mess of Blue Fish, and perhaps, if good 

 luck favor you, a ten pound Basse. When you fish for him by 

 casting from the shore, after feeling a bite, you should run 

 straight back on the shore and draw your prize out as quickly 

 as possible. Should you be using the rod, after striking your 

 game, you must take a backward march, keeping the point of 

 your rod down ; otherwise, if your fish be a heavy one, your top 

 will stand a poor chance. 



The fish taken in our bays and rivers, called by our friends 

 the Fluke, is not described by naturalists as a species distinct 

 from the flounder. Where the cognomen Fluke originated, is 

 not known. Dr. Dekay speaks of a kind denominated the 



