MENHADEN, BONY-FISH. 383 



country to enrich the sand-hills where the oak of Jerusalem 

 will hardly vegetate." 



The menhaden, in appearance, form, and feature, resembles 

 the shad, and is in size between the herring and the latter 

 dainty esculent, although they sometimes attain to the size 

 of a small shad. Cut up into small pieces, they are used to 

 bait the ground where basse and other sporting-fish congre- 

 gate. On the shores of Long Island the small fish of this 

 species are used for bait by cutting them in two in the mid 

 die, and again through the sides and fleshy part of the ex- 

 tremity of the fish to the tail, which is cut off and thrown 

 away, or chopped up and used with the remaining part of 

 the fish on the baiting-ground. The hook, which is generally 

 a flatted end, Limerick or Kirby, in size about one or two 0, 

 is passed through and brought out, so as to be nearly or 

 quite concealed between the divided parts. A strong piece 

 of linen thread or twine is then wound around the shank, ter- 

 minating with a few half-hitches to prevent the bait from pull- 

 ing off. A good method is to have about a dozen large hooks 

 with loops of strong line whipped on, and prepared ready- 

 Uaited for the occasion to attach to your trolling-line, and 

 use as described on page 245. When the rod is used in this 

 description of sport, the excitement is much greater than 

 heaving or hauling or casting, and the 'best and strongest 

 implements are necessary. If you have a rod with separate 

 tops, the shortest one should be used, leaving the full length 

 not over eight or nine feet. The tip and guides should be 

 large enough to let the largest-sized reel-line pass through 

 freely, and all should be thoroughly jewelled with cornelian. 

 The reel also should be furnished, if possible, with the same 

 kind of searing. 



Reels, holding from two hundred to four hundred ya; 



