THE STRIPED BASSE. 
163 
If the above assertion of Smith’s is correct, it is very 
strange that so important an angle fish has not been known 
to the angling community of Europe ; for out of upwards of 
an hundred books on the subject of angling, in Europe, only 
one or two makes mention of any kind of basse whatever, and 
they are a species of trout, differing entirely from the striped 
basse of our waters. However, to us Anglers, (although we 
should like to see the learned Doctors agree,) it matters not 
“ whether we have the name so long as wo liavo the game.” 
As an object of sport, they are sought after with great 
avidity, by the sportsmen of the parts of New- York 
and New-Jersey, bordering on the Hudson river, and 
have been taken of quite a large size as far up as Albany * 
and Troy. They are also made very profitable to market 
fishermen, at some seasons being taken in great numbers, with 
very little trouble. In the early part of January of the pre- 
sent year, 25,000 pounds were taken in Point Judith Ponds, 
the majority of a large size, that netted tho proprietors 
$5,000. 
They are generally angled for with a strong, pliable rod, 
12 to 15 feet in length, made of ash, with a lance-wood top. 
For boat fishing, a rod about 12 feet in length is considered 
long enough, but for bridge or bank fishing, 14 to 18 feet have 
the preference. They may be had in every variety of style 
at the tackle stores in the city of New-York, whore no pains 
or expense is spared in adapting them to the peculiar tastes 
of the Angler. Attached to the rod should bo a reel, suffi- 
ciently largo to contain from 300 to GOO feet of flax, grass, or 
silk line ; to your line a swivel sinker, and float, according to 
the current of your fishing ground, and a leader, from three to 
six feet in length, double for fall fishing, and single for the 
Bpring run. Some of the best Anglers, however, prefer using 
* In tho spring of 18*1*1, one was taken with a rod and root, in Sau- 
gcrtioB creek, weighing fifteen und a half pounds. 
