and the Maritime Provinces. 165 



tide-way a swivel-sinker is of course necessary, but it should be only heavy 

 enough to carry the bait down a few feet below the surface, a heavier sinker 

 being very objectionable. 



The hook should be attached to a piece of line piano wire, for the rea- 

 son that a wandering bluefish is likely to take the bait, and if he does so the 

 wire is the only line that can resist his sharp teeth and powerful jaws. 



Where bass of small size are abundant this method of angling has 

 its charms ; the fish bite freely, and a catch of one hundred, or more, in a 

 day has been made in some localities by a single rod. 



In the Potomac river and in the waters of the Chesapeake bay still- 

 fishing for rock-fish is a favorite recreation, great numbers of one or two- 

 pound fish being taken ; larger fish in those localities, however, are not 

 often obtained. 



In our waters, particularly on Narragansett bay, the method most in 

 vogue is by " casting " from the rocky shore. The bait used is a strip, four 

 or five inches in length, cut from the side of a menhaden, which is doubled 

 over the hook and fastened to it by a couple of half hitches of the line. 

 No sinker is used, and as a rule no leader, although some anglers prefer 

 one of double gut, such as is used in heavy salmon fishing. The line is 

 reeled up until only a half yard or so is out beyond the tip of the rod, and 

 the angler then makes a " cast " by raising the rod, giving it a backward, 

 horizontal sweep, and then with a quick movement forward, throwing the 

 bait out into the surf as far as possible. 



This method of casting is acquired only after considerable practice, 

 the novice rarely being able to put out any considerable length of line with- 

 out either allowing it to overrun or become fouled. 



The thumb, guarded by a woolen cot, is held to the reel to prevent its 

 running too freely, but the pressure must be properly adjusted or the cast 

 will be a failure. 



Experienced anglers can make incredibly long casts and can drop their 

 lure at almost any desired point within their reach. The portions of the 

 menhaden that are not used for bait are chopped into small fragments 

 and thrown into the water; these pieces, called "chum," are full of oil, 

 which forms a greasy coating on the surface of the water that attracts the 

 bass even from a considerable distance. 



The angler, after making a cast, begins to reel in the line slowly, and 

 if his bait is not accepted, he repeats his cast until a fish is hooked. 



The first rush of a large bass, when he feels the hook, is somewhat 

 startling ; from thirty to fifty yards of the line are taken out with astonish- 

 ing speed, and if the reel is provided with a click it rings right merrily. 



After the first two or three runs the fish settles down in the water, 

 and the angler then has an opportunity to recover some of the line. 



