STEIPED BASS. 145 



bait, and after a brave struggle surrenders to human 

 ingenuity. 



Although the true fisherman may pursue the small 

 fish of the Delaware or Hudson, of New York Bay 

 or the Sound, may patiently bide their time at Hack- 

 ensao or Pelham bridges, McComb's dam or the 

 hedges ; and may have true pleasure in capturing 

 them with dancing float and shrimp, or running 

 sinker, and shedder crab ; if he can spare a week 

 or two, he should cut adrift from the noise and tur- 

 moil, foul stenches, and fouler deeds of the city , 

 and hastening to Newport or Point Judith, enjoy 

 the noblest sport of the salt water — ^bass-fishing 

 with menhaden bait. He will need stout nerves, 

 strong muscles, good tackle, and abundant skill ; for 

 he will be called upon to cast with the utmost of 

 his power, perhaps a hundred yards, and to strike 

 and land fish that may weigh half a hundred pounds. 

 He will be exposed to the sea-breeze, or it may be 

 the storm wind at early day-light, and the spray 

 from the salt waves, and wet and cold will be his 

 portion 'y but he will foi'get these trivial evils, when 

 l\e stiikes the bass of forty, fifty, or sixty pounds, the 

 fish that he has been living for, and when he lands 

 him safely on the slippery rocks. 



Fishermen of character have been known to as- 

 sert, that they could cast with the rod, the ordinary 

 menhaden bait, one hundred and twenty yards ; and 

 although from a high stand, with the aid of a strong 

 wind, this is possible, the ordinary cast is not over 

 half that distance, and to exceed one hundred when 

 7 



