CHAPTER XIV. 

 OP T HE DRU M 



THIS is a large, uncouth, ugly-looking fish, not often sought 

 after as an object of sport, but sometimes, and when least 

 expected, the subject of the angler's toil. If, however, 

 he should be lightly rigged, and not on the alert, this ele- 

 phant looking animal often has the pleasure of chewing the 

 bottom tackle at his leisure, and the astonished sportsman 

 unfortunately has to rig himself anew, (after twisting his 

 segar in his mouth, or rolling his quid on t'other side, if he 

 has either,) or chew the cud of discontent at not having sup- 

 plied himself with extra tackle, or not being more strongly 

 accoutred. 



Mitchill has the following remarks on this fish: 

 " Black Drum (Sciaena fusca) Length when full grown, 

 thirty-eight or forty inches; depth, fourteen or sixteen. 

 Spreads from the back wedgewise towards the belly, which 

 is rather flattish and broad, rendering it easy to turn the 

 dead fish upon the belly for examination. 



"The black drum often equals fifteen, twenty, and even 

 thirty pounds. The individual now before me comes to 

 thirty-four. I once weighed a drum that was as heavy as 



