The Sheepshead 331 
hand-lines, and looked upon as a mere commercial 
commodity alongshore ; but it isa game fish in all 
the term implies when caught with a rod. In 
the question of tackle there is the greatest differ- 
ence in taste, and most of the sheepshead are 
hauled in with heavy lines, the latter being 
anchored to the ground with a heavy sinker. 
Other fishermen use tarpon rods, or rods which 
sell as bait rods, made for use on the fishing 
steamers which run out of New York to the 
banks. They are stiff and heavy, to permit the 
hauling of a dead weight from a considerable 
depth. My own experience with the sheepshead 
has been with a light rod not less than eight 
and a half feet long and a cuttyhunk line as 
delicate as one’s conscience will permit. I took 
my largest sheepshead on a number nine cutty- 
hunk line; and as the average fish weighs but 
six or eight pounds, a very light line can be 
employed. A sinker is necessary at times. I 
have fished at the mouth of the St. Johns, where 
my heavy sinker seemed to be always on the sur- 
face; but there is a lull in the current between 
tides which is a good time to begin to fish. 
Again, the bait can be cast up the current and 
allowed to drift down. There is more true 
