SEA FISHING. 165 



hook escaped from its jaws before the death blow was given 

 him, and the savage fish snapped at his leg, but fortunately 

 seized the boat seat, where he left the marks and the points 

 of several of his teeth, when his head was stove in, and 

 further mischief prevented. I had the skin of a similar 

 brute hanging among my other trophies for a long time, 

 as a " caution," as the Yankees would say, against being 

 too venturesome. 



For the benefit of my town-bred readers visiting at the 

 sea-side, let me caution them against attempting to fish 

 from a boat without they have the assistance of a practised 

 hand, for an accident is not unlikely, in consequence of the 

 power of the fish, and the necessity of killing them imme- 

 diately. Smaller fish are kept alive in the " wells " of 

 regular fishing-boats and smacks. I am now writing for 

 the behoof of amateurs. 



Some sport, or rather fun, may be obtained at the sea- 

 side, by bobbing for crabs from a pier-head or projecting 

 point of rock. A cinder is tied to a piece of cord, properly 

 weighted and dropped along the Taottom, inch by inch, in 

 all the likely places for a crab to hide. As soon as the 

 cinder comes near his claws, he seizes it firmly and with 

 proverbial obstinacy holds it tight until he is drawn to the 

 surface. 



A fisherman will gladly take a stranger with him for a 

 night's fishing for " a consideration,'' and to those in quest 

 of a new sensation I recommend the investment. 



