New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-07

THE wEAKFTSH.

Nost channels where weakfsh are found have
certain pockets or deep holes which the hsh seek
II they are not found there il is often well TO watch
for rpples and swirls the surface. for they tell
OF feeding schools Of fish. If a school Is found by
these signs the boat should be carefully worked up
the tide 10 a point we'll ahead Of the fish. Great
care must be taken not to disturb them, ana by no
means must the angler think Of rowing anywhere
near them. Absolute quietncss In approaching the
alert and tmid creatures is Indispensable, for the
spashing of an oar, stamping on the bottom OF the
boat or throwing the anchor overheard nOlsey VIII
send them scurrying away like a flash.
The weakfsh is wary the shyeSt trout that
ever eliIded the angler. The writer has seen
school Of big fish which were playing on the placid
surface on stll July evening disappear instantly
when IA fisherman in boat called TO another In
a lOnd voice. When the school appeared again ~
was half mile away. When the fish thus playing
on the surface they often refuse almost every Kind
of bait and only the most skilful aud most deeply
learned in the craft can lure them then. But II
they are biting the surface they come with
tremendous rush that has often actually taken the
rod out of an unwary anglers hands. sometimes on
calm, MINDLESS and hot days they sink 10 the bottom
or swim few feet from the bottom. Then they often
bite lightly and nibblc at the most tempting bait
much like porgy. II the angler careesSy strikes
then the fish will leave the bait at once and probably
not come near a hook again for some Time The
proper way to do Is slowly to yield lew lhches
OF line to the fish when suddenly he will take II and
off with Ugor II is not necessary hcr ana Indeed
IL Is rarely necessary in the OF fish Ike these
to strike them. If the sh does not hook himself nj
the first rush at the bait, amount of striking Will
secure him. and the sharp Jerk viii only serve 10 en-
nance the liability Of his tearing ont 30 also In hgt
ing him after he Is hooked. Keep the line tdut
ALWAYS but never force the fish though the tackle
can bear IT, ana always remember that 1t l. tender
mouthed fish that Is the line. When bs ude
runner is hooked he always darts away from the Loaf
and generally with the current. slowly aud with
wi dom the strain must be adjusted that II Will tire
h,n ont gradually until the strength Of his first mao
rush begins to decrease Then be may be carefully
turned toward the boat and tine business oil itehns III
nav begin. But the handle Of the reel must Dc ma
nipuated by gentle and educated hnScs ever ready ~
Weld 10 each new effort Of the fish IL break away.
Time after time the line must be allowed 10 run out
again. and only inch by inch may he he conquered
In weakfshng patience 1. golden. and without II no
amount Of skin will avail. The fish Is never secure
till he IS in the lotion OF the boat Nor ne has been
forced TO the surface and when ne brEls 10 IrnP nD
the air and circle around the boat WIN Jaws shPPHe
furiO,lv and his red gills dngrlly OPEN iHc I'h ~
losing him inrrsases and me nearr ne Fs me-
man with the rod treats his prey with gehtIeSI soHcl
tude. -,. 81, ~.
The bait most commonly used by anger, VITO 70
60 ont only occasionally Is shredder crap rms ;otn
the common blue crab IN ms most Cn TN ad lnr
TO his body only by shrcdS OF skin lie ieeis ju,t
IS tOyOUsly wicked ever bul ic 1911 HDl' ~ W"
anything for his claws, like the rest OF ms BODY
are soft and useless for attack or defence. Weak
fish in all waters. when they biting at all hardly
ever refuse this bait. II makes most tempting
lure and the hook when covered with The Julcy rru
white and blue meat, be seen for long distal'"
I'm the water. The capture OF the shcdder crab Is
fiouI,hng industry. Being helpless he -cnrries away
along crumblpg banks and under weed,
and hides in Swallows. 20 the FISH go, o.
a long handled scoopnst and ,cr'peS it along the
weeds or scoops wp the crabs rs thcY scufry over
The bottom. At night jack llch is used, the
glare Of which Eliminates the bottom 10 d great
distance and makes everything Dlanly visible To the
experienced eve Of the baymcn The crabs NAV be
bought An any OF the markets and fish stands along
the river fronts In the season They cost from 90
cents TO 81 so dozen, according 20 she and supply
shrimp are another excellent bait for weatnsh and
sklul anglers prefer them They are plentiful almost
everywhere along shore and NAV Dc secured bv scrap
ing the old tmbers Of docks wecdy bank, Of creeks
and estuarics with q hne-mcshcd scoop net Unless
they are extremely large two at least are necessary
bait the hook. They should be impaLed head first
as the FISH often bite OFF the head OF the shrimp only.
A killing bait particularly early and late In the
season. which IS known 10 Onlv few anglers Is The
live killieilsh OF the species as used n sea
bass II described and illustrated In The Tribune
on sunday. Nav 90, and It Is used IN the same man
ner as for bassthat t.. hooked through the ips
only and allowed TO swim of with the current