Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-10-06
FISHING

Jyourselfupon rock on the southern shore
OF Rhode-Island, and throw a hook, well
baited with crab or lobster, into the sea.
There, when Southeastern has ruffled old
ocean down in his very depths, and started
muscle and shell fish from their rocky hold,
when bass are counting the breakers for
fond and frolick, and blackish are plying
fins and tail briskly over the uneven bottom,
your arm will soon ache with the frequency
and weight Of its earnings. Or if you are
not ofthe number that a little motion max
eth SICK" sail in one of-ou commodious
boats to the Wash Ball or the Reef and
there frml y moored, throw in, and toll for
the treasures of the deep. Soup, founders.
blue fish and black are swimming in myri-
ads beneath you, the destined victims of
your dangerous lures. These you draw up
alternately in great abundance but now
and then you have something on your hook
which you know is of different kind, and
your curiosity is awake to discover what
Eimpertinent fish has taken the morsel allot-
ted to better species. At last, rising
through six or seven fathoms of water, a
dogfsh appears, his eyes glaring in aston
ishment at his unexpected elevation. and
his tail thrashing furiously, as if to express
his rage at being drawn so unceremonious-
!y from his home in the sea. Again YOU
haul in, with the expectancy Of seeing
another visage equally strange and unwel-
come-up comes catfish, droll, queer
looking chap with large head and little
tail, and with fins, horns, and other numer-
GUS projections for swimming and defence.
Or perhaps you catch grunter, somewhat
similar to the last in shape, with a green
back and white belly covered over with little
nodes. This fish affords great deal OF
amusement to the boys. When laid on its
back and scratched with stick or knife,
it swells up like bladder; in this state it
is used like football, and sent flying back
to its submarine abode. It thus escapes,
oftener than any other, lingering death
and unlike the frogs in the fable, when thus
kicked home again, has no reason to say
this may be sport to you, but it is death
to u.s." But these are only occasional in,
truders on your hook. Nine times out Of
ten you will find something well worth hav.
ing at the end of your line, and which will
require no ordinary effort of strength and
skill to bring safely to your hand. o, the
delight Of an unfrequent fisherman, when he
finds a tautog, weighing nine pounds to the
notch, surely within his grasp. Old Isaac
Walton angling for trout in some narrow
stream, could form no idea of the gloriou:
sport there is in drawing from their rocky
hooks and crevices the fat and tender ,chitt
chin, or of the notable exploit of skill anG
strength by which a huge sea bass i.
brought safely on board or to the shore
from his home in the foam of an angry
breaker.
| Fishing from the rocks is however prefer
able for those inclined to be sea sick. There
you cansit, "unmoved as Atlas" while the
waves are dashing beneath you, and enjoy
at the same time the diversion and the pros.
Ipect. An excursion to the shore on a fine
summer day, taking with you the few nipple.
ments necessary for catching and cooking
fish, is really delightful. There is some.
thing so novel and pleasant in thus occa.
sionally carrying your kitchen to your fish
instead Of your fish to your kitchen. A
hook and line, gridiron, a little salt and
pepper, some bread and butter,a and finder.
box are all that is requisite for enjoying tbs
favour Of fish from his native element
Seated in the shade of some massey rock
you can cook the delicious victim, and en-
joy repast more exquisite than Kitchene
could ever imagine, or Ude prepare.
NesCvort Repu6EeGn.