The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-10
NO FISH ACT ALIKE
IN TAKING HOOK
Surf Fishers Sociable and Pic
turesque Group of Salt
Water Anglers.
COAST MEN COURTEOUS
NJ ALEXANDER sTODDART.

witty u u uleldnNCf uiOp ~ piNh - eb
again and then go Off with II on run,
as IL the usual habit with this fish.
Probably there is no moment in the
life OF the angler that means SO much
rs when fish is fooling around the
bait. All fish do II differently. Some
times the same species will not act In
the same way. The weakhsh often hits
the bait hard at other times It nibbles.
The bluefish strikes the bait hard and
you have to keep him going from the
moment he strikes, but II you used the
same tactics with the sailfsh you would
never be eligible for membership In the
Sailfish Club.
The sailfsh when It strikes hits the
bait a bang and its instinct tells II
that IL has stunned its prey II II does
not move. Then It calmly picks it W
and proceeds to devour It. II the
anglers bait for the sailfish Is moved
after II is struck there is no hope OF
catching that fish.
In surf fishing there Is much uncer-
ttainty, and that Is why anglers like DR.
: J. w. Droogah carry an elaborate out
tit to the beach. Let big sharks APP
pear. which promise excitement. and DR.
Droogan changes hooks in a moment
Let bluefish jump or the gulls dart
after the food the bluehsh have cut
and slashed, and the angler from West:
chester will have a supply of BelmaI
squids to give to all his party. Let an
angler break a suspender button pulling
In big fish and Dr. Droogan's kit will
be sure to contain a bachelor button thai
can be slipped on instantly.
Coast Guard Men Unafrnfd.
In these days on the beaches one meets
with men of the United States Coas'
Guard much more frequently than in any
other year. Sometimes they are accom-,
panied by navy men, whom they are
breaking in. for the United States Coas'
Guard Is now under the supervision Of the
Secretary of the Navy
The navy men are spick and span In
their uniforms of blue. The coast guards
much of their work being performed or
the water. wear khaki, which suffers the
wear and tear much better. but is not sc
)presentable. But no one can do rough
work and be out In storm and sunshine
and wear fine clothes. The coast guart
men take q pride in their work oil
patroiling the waters for submarines and
spies and those who may try to commu-
nicate with undersea boats or bring
fresh provisions or fuel to them.
The coast guard Is mostly recruited
from neighboring districts. so that as a
rule the men are familiar with life or
the ocean. They patrol these lonely
beaches throughout the night. always or
the alert for signal at sea or on land
Neither tides, winds, ground swells
squalls nor storms deter them from theii
patrol work. Sometimes all night storm.
sweep these beaches. but the clock 1!
punched regularly. and for miles there /!
no such thing as shelter. They are mel
unafraid.
So far reaching is the interest in the
man in the service that the influence o.
the Red Cross is now felt among mem
bers of the coast guard The local Rec
Ceoss makes sweaters for the men, ant
nothing is more appreciated on windy
and cold nights than these sweaters
which keep the animal heat in and ait
much In making men comfortable wher
the mercury is below freezing.
Confusion Regarding Lights.
Curious as 1t may sound. many Of
the young navy men put at patrollinl
at first became frightened at their owl
shadows or OF inanimate things. Some
times on their night patrols they ge
lost. Coming from the city, their eye:
nre not used to darkness. and the coas
patrol men have had TO caution then
not to shoot when men suddenly appear
as sometimes happens.
One of the coast guards told a grouI
OF fishermen with good deal OF serious
ness that when he sees one of these mel
I'm the distance he either whistles o
shouts to him that the navy man ma!
not be taken unaware of the presence o
the other and make n target Of him.
Fhe coast guard has been lenien
with surf fishermen except in isolated
cases where young officers have though
they detected signalling when fisherman
may have pulled out q fiashlight a
night to adjust the bait or TO take tn,
hook out OF the mouth OF fish. Oh
the other hand careful anglers hav
gone SO far in their desire not to h,
mistaken for spies that they have writ
ten commanding officers that the!
would be on the beach on a certain
night.
Much confusion occurs on Long ISLAM
concerning the use OF lights on tn
beach. While one group of anglers OF
n Long Island beach were told not (,
uee- the fiashlight but to burn a stead!
light. the next time they used n stead!
light or lantern the officer In charg
said no lights of any kind were permitte
on the beach, took their names and toll
the men they would hear from Wash
tngton.'
The coast guards as a usual thing
however. are men of common sense all,
able TO size up the object OF men 81
the-beaches. Some OF the guards. prob
ably, because a cup of hot coffee ha
tasted good or the angler has givel
the evenings catch for sailing dow
purposes, have gone SO far as to brlnl
over to an anglers camp half a bushe
OF delicious oysters as a mark OF ap
probation. Courtesies between guard
and anglers no cOmm0n on the haa ri 10
Surf Anglers Picturesque.
Now that the waste OF food has bee
sr impressed upon people surf fishermen
are going out OF their way to distribut
their catches among people who vii
make use of the fish, or else they sal
down the fish for winter use. Albert G
Clches OF Brooklyn during a stay in lat
September at New Inlet saw to It tina
not a fish was wasted. After the llf
guards had been supplied early on til
trip the weakfish and fuke OF the las
days were cleaned and the fish 50 lite
down in a butter tub. When he arrive
at his brooklyn home he had $50 pound
OF weakiish for winter use that will re
call his pleasant fishing trip.
Surf fishermen are a picturesque loI
some fish in oilskins, some In KHAKI
others wear trapshooters' coats. stt
others Just their old clothes and rubbe
boots that come to the hips
A few fish alone, but as n usual thin
they are 'ound in groups discussing Ash
ing conditions, best bats, tides, hook
and the like, and are happy In their en
virOnmenL Of simple pleasures under n
ever CLEANSING sky and sea
And always they are on the alert TO
the bite that may prove to be the bi
hsh Of the seaso !.