The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-09-22

lOT Tue uduut8 VI inc UtoCAuons 11e4O
they anchor and remain all day, sell
dom failing to land a good catch
Small launches make the best
means Of conveyance, because they
enable one to reach the likeliest
lodges (those near shore are pretty
well fished Quit and because their
shallow draft permits of their run
ming safely into the rocky places in
habited by the flsh. Sailb0ats are
rather dangerous in this respect and
1t Is no rare occurrence to see one
hung up high and dry by the falling
tide. Rowboats are very convenient
for near-shore fishing. but rather
risky. Squalls are likely to come up
more than interesting for the FISH,
ers.
The blacklist is said never to desert
his home waters and 1t is a fact that
he never visits the rivers like do the
salmon and the sturgeon to lay his
spawn. At the advent of the cold
weather he becomes torpid and goes
into Information, not emerging again
into life until spring April makes
the return of his appetite and fisher
men time the period OF his reappear-
ance with the Towering of the dog
wood. From then until November he
can be caught, though there is time
in midsummer, during the excessive
heat. when he will only be tempted by
the daintiest of delicacies By Sep
TENDER he is feeding voraciously
again. however, SO the slack season
only lasts few weeks.
The bait commonly used for black
fish is the soft-shell clam and the i'd
der crab. Knowing anglers swear va
riOusly by shrimp, hermit crab, sand
worm, hard clam and the tailend of a
chicken lobster as irresistible NOR
sells when the fish are not biting well,
but, as a rule, there is no necessity
for special bait.
The securing of a soft-shell clam on
the hook is task that requires con-
summate skill. Wherever lives the
blackfish Is to be found also In great
abundance the srsaff--11ses>csffG0 th5
bergalt or Gunner. and the bergalt
has a particular fondness for CLAIMS
and nendish cleverness In separating
them from hook. While he is about
it yoa feel a few gentle nibbles and
them motion ceases. You pay no at
tenfon, of course. but after waiting
vainly for a bite you decide to inspect
the bait and find to your surprise that
1t is gone. The hook is picked as
clean as a whistle. A motiOnless line,
free from nibbles has come to indicate
a baitless hook to the seeker of the
BLACKLIST.
The most effective way of checking
the predatory instinct OF the bergait
is to bait with the entire clam. shell
and all. This is done by inserting the
hook into the protruding neck of the
clam. twisting 1t around until 1t Is
firmly imbedded into the hard mus
Gle of the bivalve and then crack
ing the shell lightly. Prepared this
way the clam is easily taken into the
big mouth of the BLACKLIST. but pre-
sents an armored surface to the begalt
which he attempts vainly to break
through.
The vast majority of blackfish
anglers being fishermen rather than
sportsmen, and counting the days en-
joyment only from the standpoint Of
the catch, scruple not to minimize as
much AZ possible the fish's chances Of
escape They use heavy hand lines
provided with two or three good
hooks, and when q fish strikes 1t be-
comes merely a matter Of hauling 1t
| in, hand over hand.
There are others. though, who have
the right sporting blood and believe in
equalixing matters 50 that skill win
have to be brought into play. They
use light rather than stin poles.
preferably Of split bamboo. and bass
lines.
| The blacknsh. being . bottom nsh.
1t IL necessary to anchor the line.
This Is done by securing . small sink
cr to the end Above it are spliced two
| leaders a foot or so apart. each bear
| ing . hook. the size Of which depends
on tho individuals idea Of what II
proper. These ideas evidently vary
greatly. for = wide range Is seen. To
| the writer = 20 has seemed to best nl1
requirement. The double leader has
been universally adopted owing to the
changeable moods Of the blaekfsh.
They win often refuse absolutely to
even 1o0k n 0ddlnF1 n01 pouncQ