CHAPTER XX. 

 OP THE SEA-BASSE, PORGEE, &C. 



These are both sea fish, and abound in immense quantities 

 in the ocean outside of Sandy Hook, New-York, on what are 

 called the Sea-Basse and Forgee Banks. In the summer 

 months, to the pent-up citizen who is obliged to stay in the 

 city during the sweltering heat of July and August— the 

 stranger who would view the beauties of one of the finest 

 harbors in the world — and to the more scientific angler, who, 

 after a season's fishing at the gently gliding stream, or the 

 romantic mountain lake, would like to try the more bracing 

 atmosphere of the ocean — this mode of angling will often 

 aflbrd a day of amusement and gratification. 



During the above-mentioned months, steamboats are pre- 

 pared and fitted up for this species of fishing, and make their 

 trips sometimes daily, returning, often, with well-satisfied 

 amateur ocean anglers, each with their string of fish.* In 

 order to enliven the scene on these occasions, a band of music 



* Id the summer of 1843, immense quantities were taken— the steam- 

 boat often returning with from six to ten thousand porgees, and a por- 

 poise weighing five or six hundred pounds. 



