68 Fisnive in AmericAN WATERS. 
No. 3. Bait folded at dotted line and baited on shank-headed 
hook, with a half hitch of the line cast round the end of 
bait to prevent it from slipping down and filling the bend 
of the hook. Some anglers cast one half hitch around the 
bait just below the head of the hook, and another round 
the top of the bait; it forms a more compact bait, and bet- 
ter shape to cast; but bluefishes are more likely to cut the 
line off than when the bait is secured by one half hitch 
above the hook, as represented. 
No. 4. A thumb-stall, knitted from heavy double and twisted 
woolen yarn, to be worn on each thumb, to prevent the 
friction of the line in checking the too swift revolving of 
the reel. 
No. 5. Chum-spoon for throwing minced fish with. After 
taking a bait from each side of the menhaden between the 
first dorsal and the tail, which is done by first scaling the 
part from which the bait is taken, then chop fine the re- 
mainder of the fish, head and all, with a hatchet or bait- 
knife, and use the spoon to cast it out on the pool to be 
fished. The spoon is about a foot long. This chopped-up 
fish is called “chum,” and casting it out is called “ chum- 
ming,” which is continued until the debris of half a dozen 
ménhaden so scattered on the water produces an oily sur- 
tace, or “slick,” as the gaffers call it, extending sometimes 
halfa mile from shore. When bass smell it they approach 
it, and follow the oily surface toward the point where the 
chum was thrown in, occasionally finding small bits of men- 
haden, which the angler on the rocks may see them break 
water to obtain. Nearer and nearer the bass approach in 
the path of chum until they arrive within casting distance. 
The chum should be chopped very fine; some persons cast 
in the head of a menhaden whole; this is bad practice, for 
it not only invites sharks and bluefish, but bass feed on it 
when they might otherwise take the baited hook. 
