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the line and perfect working of the reel, whereby the 

 restraining tension is so difficult to apply perfectly, so 

 hard to regulate exactly to the occasion — that no angler, 

 however skillful or experienced can always be sure that 

 his line will go out clean and clear, without bagging or 

 catching, while at the same time his bait reaches the 

 utmost limit of distance to which he can drive it. 



So much for bass fishing'in the surf, a sport that com- 

 pares favorably with and is only surpassed by salmon 

 fishing ; but we must not neglect the smaller run of 

 these fish which are taken by rod and reel, from the 

 weight of eight ounces to that of sixty pounds. The 

 large fish are diminishing at so rapid a rate that there is 

 danger that before many years have passed surf fishing 

 will have ceased to be practiced, and Outtyhunk, Pasque 

 and West Island will be deserted, as Point Judith is 

 already. Far more persons are interested in the milder 

 sport, and there is hope that it will last until the time 

 comes when bass will be bred artificially as trout and 

 salmon now are, and when a stop shall be put to the 

 decrease of these fish. 



The prettiest mode of taking striped bass must be 

 admitted to be with the fly, which, unfortimately can 

 only be done in the brackish or fresh water. Like sal- 

 mon, they will not take the fly generally in the salt 

 creeks and bays, and then only when it is trolled. Thus 

 though the sport of fly fishing for striped bass is excel- 

 lent, it is confined to few localities, and those often 

 difficult of access. Fly fishing may be done either with 

 the ordinary salmon rod, or in a strong current with a 

 common bass rod, by working your fiy on the top of the 

 water and giving a considerable length of line. The 

 best fly is that with the scarlet ibis and white feathers 

 mixed, the same as used for black bass ; but bass may be 



