1C6 
TH E STRIPED BASSE. 
“You are to fish as near bottom as possible, either with 
float or without ; if the tide be too strong, the float should be 
dispensed with; but a little experience will give proper 
judgment as to the time of using either, both.” 
The following, from an old and experienced amateur, 
who has angled for many years in the viciuity ofNew-York, 
will be found excellent information for those who think that 
“ No ungling can surpass 
Tlio taking of tho bassc.” 
“ The Striped Basse is one of the finest fish of our waters. 
By sportsmen it is considered a game fish of the salt water 
tribe, affording capital amusement to the angler, by his great 
strength and activity. There are many places in the vicinity 
of New-York city, where these fish are frequently found in 
great plenty. They commence taking the hook generally in 
April. The first fishing ground in the neighborhood, in the 
spring, is in the creeks at Kingsbridge — next at Macomb's 
Dam, Newtown creek, and Jersey flats. At this early sea- 
son, shrimp is far the best bait, especially where tho water 
is salt, though in the Passaic, at Belleville, anglers are very 
successful in the use of shad-roe as a bait. This bait is rather 
difficult to manage by a novice. The experienced angler 
makes use of tow, or wool, cutting his bait with as much of 
the skin as possible, and winding a few strands of the tow 
or wool around it ou the hook, which prevents the current 
from washing it off, which it would soon do without this pro 
caution. On the reefs of the Passaic and Hackensack rivers, 
many of these noble fish are taken early in April. The shad- 
roe has been tried repeaieJly at Macomb’s Dam and in New- 
town creek, without success ; tho reason is obvious to the 
writer. The shad run up the fresh water streams to spawn, 
and are never known to spawn at either of the places just 
mentioned, and I have never had much success with this 
