Contest witt A SHEEPSMEAD. 93 
bring him to the surface, but as soon as he smells the upper 
air he turns quicker than thought, and, unless I yield him line, 
he will cither part it or break my rod. The sheepshead is 
what Lord Dundreary said of 2 certain bird,‘ werry wobust.’ 
You are right, judge, he is beautiful; but do not count him 
until he is in the landing-net. There! stand out of the way 
of his dorsal and pectoral spikes; I always wear boots when 
angling for sheepshead or trolling for blucfish.” 
“Ho! judge, you have hooked a good one. Good! Play 
him gently and gingerly.” 
“We'll not let me! LTexpect to lose him. There, that’s the 
third time [have brought him to the surface, only to see him 
take more line and get farther from the boat at every turn. 
By the powers, there! Captain, how much will he weigh 2” 
“T ouess summut near on to ten pound.” 
“What! You dowt mean to say hell not seale more than 
ten pounds ?” 
“Yes, sir; maybe et’s summut bie 
I check the interesting colloquy by stating that I think our 
fishes are about the same size, but that the one I have just 
oer.” 
hooked is larger than either. The judge then sees that it is 
best to employ all his time at fishing while the biting con- 
tinues. As I land the second one, I remark: 
“Judge, you perceive there is no mistaking the bite ofa 
sheepshead ; his bite informs you that he is in earnest.” 
“Precisely so. His bite is like that of no other fish. It 
is as spasmodic as a bluefish and as powerful as an alligator, 
and he gives, also, an indescribable premonition, informing 
you that a powerful fish is examining your bait. There! 
he’s gone !” 
“Well, judge, please examine your hook. The point is bro- 
ken off The only safe place to hook a ‘head’ is in the lip, 
or at the angle covering the mandibles. I took thirteen here 
one day, and played a greater number which I lost. Our 
fishing-tackle kings should inspire greater confidence and 
better temper by giving us finer tempered hooks.” 
