THE BLXJEFISH AND STEIPED BASS 



falling off in numbers, so far as the angler is concerned. 

 Fortunately it was introduced into the mouth of the Sacramento 

 some years ago, and has increased in numbers until it has become 

 one of the game and food fishes of the Cahfornian coast. The 

 striped-bass is found in fair numbers south of New York, and 

 is a favourite fish with the members of the Asbury Park Fishing 

 Gub, who in 1912 took seventy-nine striped-bass, ranging from 

 thirty-eight pounds down. Many were taken at ni^t. 



The striped-bass attains a weight of from fifty to seventy 

 pounds. I have seen fishes of the largest size taken through 

 the ice of the Hudson in mid- winter. In the Atlantic, it is found 

 on rocky shores, and at the clubs of New England, piers were 

 built out over the water from the rocks which were drawn for by 

 the club members. Seated here, with the gaffer on the rocks 

 below, the angler cast out beyond the breaking waves, using rod 

 and reel and half of a lobster's tail as bait. When the strike 

 came the battle was on, and amid the flying spume, in deep blue 

 water, it was a gallant game played between angler and fish. 



To-day, the best striped-bass angling on the Pacific slope of 

 America is found on the flats at the mouth of the Sacramento 

 Eiver, above San Francisco. It is interesting to note that the 

 striped-bass has migrated five hundred miles down the coast, 

 specimens having been taken as far south as Santa Catalina 

 Island. The bass requires a river of size, as it is a denizen of 

 both fresh and salt water ; and whether it will use the small rivers 

 of Southern California is a problem unsolved. 



In nearly all countries prototypes of fishes can be found, and 

 in America the striped-bass well represents the ' bass ' about 

 which the great English authorities on angUng, Mr. Aflalo and 

 Mr. Clark, are so enthusiastic. The following are some of the 

 striped-bass records of the Asbury Park Club compiled by Mr. 

 Streeter. The fishes were taken with rod and reel in the surf at 

 Asbury Park and vicinity by casting from the beach or from 

 piers and stands built out into the surf : 



243 



