STRIPED BASS FISHING. 299 



Neither of these methods, any more than taking them on set-lines 

 baited with Spearling or Tom-Cod, as is very successfully practised in 

 the Hudson, do I regard as legitimate or honest fishing ; and they are 

 resorted to rather by the professional fisherman than by the amateur 

 for sport. 



Nor can I say that I look with much sympathy on those who fish 

 for them as is the usual practice at Macomb's dam, King's bridge, or 

 Belleville bridge on the Passaic, and similar places, with floats 

 and sinkers and the bottom baits ; though I confess that the size and 

 vigor of the fish when hooked, render this the finest of all the kinds 

 of bait-fishing. 



The rule is, to fish as near the bottom as possible, with a sinker 

 light enough to move with the tide. The hook should be large, and 

 I believe the Kirby form is generally preferred to the Limerick. Some 

 anglers recommend the use of double, others of single gut ; and some 

 fish with, others without the float ; both plans have their own advan- 

 tages, and probably there is little difference in reality between the 

 two. 



In rivers frequented by Shad, the Shad-roe, either fresh, or preserv- 

 ed and potted, as described above in reference to Salmon, is the most 

 killing bait that can be used in the Spring-time, and is especially the 

 favorite bait of the Passaic anglers at the Belleville bridge and the 

 reefs near Acquackanonck I have no doubt of its success in the 

 upper Delaware so high as Milford, where the Bass, there called 

 Rock-Fish, is taken of rare excellence. In tide-ways it is obviously 

 useless, since the Shad never spawn in such places, and as animals in 

 a state of nature feed naturally, the Bass never looks for, nor will 

 take, such a bait, except in spots where it abounds naturally. 



The Bass may be fished for with success from early in Apr.il, some- 

 times even in March, until late in October and September. On his 

 first appearance, and up to the latter part of June, the shrimp is the 

 best bait ; and it should be used with a float, suspended at ten or eleven 

 inches distant from the bottom, From June, throughout the summer 

 the shedder crab attracts the Striped Bass rather than any other bait 

 A sliding sinker should be used in this instance, which rests on the 

 ground, and allows the crab to move on the bottom. No float is re- 

 quired for this method. 



