Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-12


~EN az head Of the nation is
sSsH and :ss HI: estimate .. Of
good fishing in the
waters that sweep
the north shore of
Martha's Vineyard carries with it convinc-
ing weight But the President is not the
Only skillful salt water fisher who has
grown very enthusiastic over the sport to
be had with the finny tribes that make
their homes in the wrecks and rocks that
strew the submerged sands of Martha's
Vineyard. Each summer sees an Increase
In the number Of men who journey here
from miles away just to put in a week
with the fish. Two classes of fishermen
make this resort headquarters for their ex-
cursions.
There is the individual who wears short
pants. usually of some Scotch fabric q pair
or short stockings, hob-nailed shoes, just as
II he was prepared to climb over slippery
rocks and lodges. such as are found about
the trout streams Of the north, a shooting
jacket. with capacious pockets, and a trim
wide-brim hat, with match box and grab
bag attachment in the interior of it's crown
This individual is usually supplied with two
rods. One is large enough for a whiffietree
on dray, while the other bends with its
own weight. Two reels are important ad-
juncts This fisherman hires a room at the
best hotel, then engages a cat boat and goes
at his fun when he is so inclined. II there
is much wind blowing he freQuents the bal
comics ashore. The boatmen get IS per day
for his seat In the boat, while the wind
blows him or the tide drifts him about the
sound of ch
ceives more from anticipation than he does
In realization. Sometimes however, he
catches few fish. and then let's the town
know Of his success, or freely airs his
superior knowledge of fishing
The Fisherman With Experfeuce
The men who get the most reward and
profit out Of fishing trip to these waters
do not affect expensive rods and automatic
reels They come to their outing with the
old-fashioned line. regulation hooks, heavy
sinkers and clans. AS rule. the man SO
prepared TO wage war against the fish did
not get his piscatorial education out of
anglers periodicals and sporting goods en-
porlums. what he knows came to him
through experience. Simplicity is his mot
to, and to the tenets of his creed he adheres
most rlghteously. or course, bluefsh take
the lead as the gamiest deaizen of the deep.
But there are so many of this species and
they are so easily caught that one tires of
the sport after he has been engaged at IL
for several days. But little brain, yet
mighty muscle, is necessary to land blue
hsh. The skipper directs the boat over
likely localities, dragging behind him line
armed with a big hook. concealed by an eel
skin that mas been picked until 1t acquires
pale blue tint, also toughness A bluefish
has an inquisitive turn of mind. When IL
sees strange object in motion the fish
jumps at and swallows 1t.
The fisherman pulls in his line, and the
blue has TO come in out of the wet.
About once a year the periodicals of the
country publish a story about how bluefish
are caught. and use in connection with this
recipe for successful fishing. a picture OF a
boat bounding over saw horse waves,
with several anxious looking individuals
tending as many lines that trail away
astern. Sometimes in order to get proper
effect. one of these people is represented in
the act of landing aboard a great fish. In
this last illustration all hands look extreme
ly happy. 1t costs money to hire a yacht
and crew for bluefishing, and there are
many sojourners here annually whose
purses cannot stand the strain. To the inn
pecunious person, vino loves to fish and
cannot spare to hire big boat more than
once during the summer, your correspond
ent will give a tip. If IL is bluesish you
seek the best grounds near at hand are
close in shore-off the entrance of Vineyard
Haven barbor at the East and West Chops.
A BIuefish OUTFIT.
1t is not necessary that a big boat be
secured for the trip. for there is no sailing
to be done. A skiff will answer. providing
there is no heavy wind blowing to make
such style of boat too active for comfort
The outfit is very simple and inexpensive.
Procure a stout line about 100 yards long,
fitted with a "squid," or hook, about the
shank of which bright metal has been cast
The metal is the lure. and 1t proves very
attractive if the bluefsh are in hungry
ha,ts IL.
hook. connected with the line by using
piece of small chain, say a foot long. The
chain Is necessary, for the teeth of a vigor-
Gus bluefsh are OF the buzz saw kind, that
strong 1t may be. When you have your
simple fishing kit ready, step into a boat
which may be hired for less than 81 per day,
row cut of the harbor to the big red can
buoy off West Chop; this buoy is numbered
2, and it's location cannot be mistaken.
A half mile to the west is black can
buoy on the east end of the middle ground"
a bar OF hard sand, which, in places, is
within two feet of the surface al low water.
Between these two buoys good bluefishng
may be had when the fish are in this local
ity. Here we have what Is termed a tide
rip. The current sweeps along with the
velocity of three or four miles per hour, and
as the water is forced over shallow places,
eddies form. In these small whirlpools are
to be found bluefish. for the simple reason
that their bait or food gets tangled In the
encirclng water, where II is held, often for
many minutes. before the eddy is dissipated
Row your boat well up to the black buoy
IL the tide is running from the Gay Head
entrance to the sound, and cast your anchor
overheard. Keep your legs well away from
contact with the anchor line 1t pays out
Into the swift-moving tide. or you may be
drawn into the water to feed the fish you
hope to eat When the anchor takes bot
tom and holds. pay out about 100 feet of the
rope, make fast to thwart and get the fish
line ready for what is, perhaps, your first
experience in "heaving and hauling"
When the Bite Comes.
The tide rushes by in a manner to recall
to mind a mill sluice you have somewhere
seen. Great eddies rise and send out driz-
cling rings until you feel like sitting In the
bottom Of the boat and holding on to some
thing for safety. To timid people the aspect
is something alarming, but the situation is
not dangerous. Having unreeled the fish
line, throw the heavy hook rs far from The
stern of the boat as you are able. The best
way to accomplish this Is to coil I'D a por-
ton of the line, and then, making sure that
the rest of 1t is clear. swing the hook with
two or three coils, around your head and
| 'let her go, Gallagher" The effect is Just
| what the small boy seeks when he endeav-
| ors to impel a rock from his sling. II sue