THE BLUE-FISH. 



213 



hundred yards, and was very successful, returning with a full 

 fare. When a fish is struck, the line should be hauled in 

 with a steady pull — not jerked. If the line is allowed to 

 slack, the fish is apt to throw itself off. 



" To disengage the fish from the hook, take the squid in 

 the right hand, and by giving it a slight shake, with the hook 

 uppermost, the fish will drop off into the boat. 



"When the boat is in stays, (tacking,) care should be 

 taken to haul in the line ; an omission in this will cause your 

 squid to sink and foul in the bottom grass. 



" Blue-fish are sometimes taken from the shore, by cast- 

 ing the squid as far as possible into the water, and hauling it 

 in with sufficient rapidity to prevent its sinking far below the 

 surface. This mode of fishing is attended with a large outlay 

 of labor, but in reward, some fine fish are taken. The places 

 best known and most resorted to for blue-fishing, are Baby 

 Ion, Islip, and Quogue, L. I. The two former have the great 

 South Bay, with Fire Island Inlet, for its ground ; the latter 

 the East Bay, and Pine Neck Inlet. Babylon and Islip are 

 nigh at hand, and easy of access ; Quogue lies some ninety 

 miles east of New- York, but has become comparatively near 

 by means of the Long Island railway, which places it within 

 five hours of the city. 



" In visiting the latter spot, the disciple of the rod and 

 gun will find a good house, and a kind, hospitable, obliging 

 man in its proprietor. Shrewsberry Inlet is another resort, 

 near which, at Port Washington, a fine house has been 

 opened." 



