CHAPTER XVIII. 



'The SNAKPiffG iVLiCKEBEL — Genus temnodon — (De Kay.) 



'The snapping -ijiackerel is a smaU rakish looking fish, swift in his 

 : movements as an arrow, darting about in schools, near and some- 

 - times on' the surface of the water. It is claimed by some that they 

 : are the young of -the bluefish, and though this assumption seems 

 '. substantiated by -the shape, color and habits of the " snapper," yet I 

 do not beheve it is an established fact. 



In form, the snapping mackerel is long, tapering and trim, much 

 like the bluefish in shape and disposition of his fins. The eye 

 is quite large and the mouth armed with teeth. In color it presents 

 every shade of metallic blue, deeper on the dorsal, lightening to 

 frosted silver on the ventral. 



The snapper , makes his appearance in August and does not take 



■ any lure after September. The fish gives great fun to the angler 

 • and affords considerable room for skiU. He can be taken only in 



stOlJwater, and I have never caught one in a tide-way. At the top 

 , of the tide is the time, giving, may be, two hours' fishing, dimng 



■ which a hundred or more can be landed if there are many snappers 

 ; about. 



A light- and flexible rod is required, a very smooth nmning reel, 



■ and thin Une and swivel sinker. The hook, which may be quite 

 large, is fastened to about a foot of gut and baited with shedder 



,crab, or if it is_found that this is wasted too rapidly, any bait lure 



