The Gray Snapper 39 
soft and pliable, having been well stretched before 
and after use. To this he attached a leader of 
very fine and pliable copper wire over four feet 
in length, and upon the long-shanked 6/o steel 
Limerick hook, impaled through the eyes six or 
seven “hard heads”; then with a graceful move- 
ment he cast the bait, so that it sank gently 
eight or ten feet from the wreck where the gray 
snappers were poising. It had no attractions for 
the small fry which rushed at it, nosed it, and 
retired. Then Paublo began a manipulation of 
the line, imparting to the bunch of silver upon 
the bottom a tremulous motion. The bait ap- 
peared to be a small school of sardines feeding ; 
the simulation was marvellous, and had immediate 
effect. A large snapper suddenly caught sight 
of the struggling mass and turning gracefully, 
moved forward, stopping within an inch of the 
lure, backing water with its caudal fin, its dorsal 
rigid, its eyes probably blazing. 
Breathing hard, Paublo whispered, “ Did yo’ 
see datcher snapper, mawster?” 
Again the bait rested, as the suspicious fish 
backed away and the long wire disappeared in 
the sand. The snapper now swam around, keep- 
ing its eyes upon it, moving nearer and nearer 
