-.,— ^=5!35^^5^i^^Sia®l»^»B!BK»«f- 



- -. ^ - . ^ 



te^:&iD BASS. 





ilf-^Wileie icy currents sweep the banks 

 h— the shores of Labrador, 

 nny myriads swarm the seas, 

 feed by every shore; 

 noblest, bravest of the race, 

 striped bass holds foremost place." 



fishing have very appropriately termed the striped bass 



saijiion of the surf." In size, game qualities and as a food fish, the 



stri|)ed bass or rock-fish of the Atlantic coast deservedly ranks with salmo, 



the leaper. Sea fishermen, enthusiastic over the wild sport enjoyed amid 



^^^e ocean spray, declare striped bass fishing the grandest and best recrea- 



^-^■^-^Op' in the whole realm of angling. 



'-'^ In appearance, this salt water representative of the bass family is 



• •'' ^symmetrical and handsome. He is described as "cylindrical, tapering; 

 "' the upper part of the body of a silvery-brown color, the lower part of the 

 sides and abdomen of a beautiful clear silver color; eight or more longi- 

 tudinal black bands on each side, commencing just back of the opercula, 

 the upper bands running the whole length of the fish, the lower ones ter- 

 minating just above the anal fin," In size, the striped bass ranges from 

 one pound to one hundred pounds, and an old angler declares that the 

 " delightful uncertainty " in this respect is one of the great charms in this 

 branch of fishing, giving ample scope for all the pleasures of hope and 

 anticipation. 



The geographical range of the fish is quite extensive along the 

 Atlantic coast, but the majority of striped bass taken with hook and line, 

 are caught between Cape Cod and Chesapeake Bay. In no other kind 

 of fishing is there such keen rivalry among anglers for the distinction of 

 catching the largest specimen of the season — the honor of "high-line" or 

 " high-hook," as it is usually termed, referring to the greatest fish or the 

 highest number taken. Records are carefully kept by the principal fishing 

 clubs along the Atlantic sea-board, notably, the Cuttyhunk, Squibnocke, 

 Pasque and West Island — showing the weight and number of striped bass 

 caught by the various members from year to year. These records are 

 properly verified, and thus placed outside the category of " fish stories." 

 Around Manhattan Island, in the East River, Harlem River, the 

 Hudson and New York Bay, are several of the celebrated resorts for 

 striped bass fishing. Hell Gate, a turbulent, foaming channel where the 

 Harlem joins the East River, is probably the most noted locality for the 

 sport in the United States. Several of the prominent angling authorities 



46 



