io6 Bass, Pike, and Perch 



The bait for casting may be the tail of a 

 lobster, cleaned of every vestige of shell, but 

 menhaden bait is generally used. After scaling 

 the fish, a slice of several inches is cut from its 

 side, tail end, and scored on the flesh side longi- 

 tudinally with a sharp knife, to admit of its 

 being more readily folded along the hook, which 

 it should envelop completely. The small end 

 of the bait is affixed to the head of the hook 

 by a half -hitch or two, its bend and barb being 

 concealed by the broader end of the bait. This 

 is the conventional method of baiting, though 

 I have had good success in more southern 

 waters by using an entire bait of mullet or 

 other silvery fish, five or six inches in length, 

 and hooked through the lips. 



The residue of the menhaden, after the baits 

 are cut off, is chopped fine, and is known as 

 " chum." This is thrown in the water to attract 

 the bass. It is called "chumming," and causes 

 an oily "slick" that spreads over the surface 

 for a long distance. The pieces of cut fish 

 thrown in are soon swallowed by scup, cunners, 

 bass, and other fishes, leaving nothing but the 

 oily slick on the surface. The bluefish, being a 

 surface feeder, is probably attracted by the slick. 



