The best lines are of grass or raw silk, but they are expensive, rot easily, require the utmost care, and will whip out against the bars of the reel. Silk lines are apt to stick and will not deliver rapidly, and custom has fallen upon those of flax. These are poor affairs at best; they swell when wet and rot unless they are dried after every wetting, but they are the most practical taken all in all, that the tackle makers have yet given us. From twelve to fifteen threads are the sizes generally used, although some persons prefer those of eighteen. Of course the finer the line the sooner it looses its strength, and deteriorates under exposure. No bass fisherman can do himself justice with any line but one of raw silk, and the question only is whether he can afford - taking into consideration his purse and the amount of fishing he may do - to buy the best or whether he must content himself with inferior tackle at a moderate price. Even a poor fisherman can make a fair show with a grass line, while a good one will often have his patience tried with a line of flax.

These costly and delicate implements are only needed for the higher kinds of bass fishing and for the largest sized fish. For smaller fish and smaller sport, lighter tackle will answer, but when the fish has the entire Atlantic ocean to escape into, and the angler expects, prays and hopes for a victim to his skill of fifty pounds weight it is unwise to use any but the best and strongest tackle. In the innumerable salt water creeks, coves and bays where fish of from three to five pounds are taken, a plain rod with a float and sinker and double snell of hooks on gut leaders is all that is necessary. More will be said on this subject hereafter.

The grandest and most skilful method of taking the striped beauties of the northern coasts, is with the menhaden bait, cast into the boiling surf of the ocean, or the larger bays, and this sport is universally enjoyed along the rock bound coast of New England, from New London to Eastport. This entire beach is one mass of rock indented by innumerable bays or severed by inlets into barren islands, where the tide rushes and the surf beats, and in every favorable locality are the bass taken with a stout rod, a long line and menhaden bait. From almost every bold rock, or prominent island can the angler cast into the vexed water of some current made by the waves rushing over the uneven bottom, and allure thence the bass, who has been attracted from the ocean depths to feed on the small fry that hide in the clefts and crevices, and waiting with fins often visible above the tide to pounce upon his prey, mistakes for it the angler's bait, and after a brave struggle surrenders to human ingenuity. Fishermen of long practice and great skill claim that they can cast the ordinary menhaden bait one hundred and twenty yards. Although from a high stand with the aid of a strong wind this is possible, the ordinary cast is not over half that distance, and to exceed one hundred when standing on a level with the water is rare. Seventy five yards is a good cast, and no man need be ashamed who can put out his line fair and true that distance. The length of cast is in a measure controlled by the direction and violence of the wind and the elevation of the stand above the water. In a contrary wind the best angler will find it difficult to reach seventy-five yards, while from a high rock with a favorable wind he will cover that distance with ease.

Casting the menhaden bait is similar to casting the float and sinker, only the power applied is enormously increased, and difficulties are proportionally magnified. The line is wound up till the bait, if a single one, is almost two feet from the tip, the rod is extended behind the fisherman, who turns his body for the purpose, and then brought forward with a steady but vigorous swing that discharges it without a jerk, like an apple thrown from a stick. The reel is so far restrained by pressure of the thumb, that it revolves no faster than the bait travels, but does not detain it, and upon the accuracy of this manipulation mainly depends the result. If too much pressure is used, the line cannot escape rapidly enough and falls short; if too little, the reel overruns and entangles the line, stopping the cast ere half delivered with a jerk that threatens its destruction. The fisherman must be able to use either hand on the reel to rest his arms and to take advantage of the wind.

Neither shrimp nor soft crabs are used in this style of fishing, and the eel skin which is used earlier in the season, is prepared by stripping the skin off the tail of an eel from the vent aft for about a foot, turn it inside out, and drawing it over a couple of hooks so placed on the line that one shall project, near the upper and the other near the tail end. A sinker of the size of one's little finger is inserted at the head, and this bait is cast by hand, as it has to be drawn rapidly. The rod is not often used in this style of fishing, as the heavy bait is apt to sink ere it can be reeled in. The skin is frequently salted to increase its firmness, and when used, must be kept in continual motion.

The menhaden bait is prepared by scaling it and then cutting a slice on one side from near the head to the base of the tail, passing the hook through from the scaly side, and back through both edges, so that the shank is enveloped and the flesh is outwards, and then tying the bait firmly with a small piece of twine that is attached to the hook for that purpose. A menhaden or bony fish furnishes two baits and the residue, except the back bone, tail, and head, is cut up fine, called chum, and thrown into the water to make a slick. A slick is the oil of the menhaden floating over the waves, and being carried by the tide or current a long distance, attracts the bass.

Where the water is clear, it is customary in rod-fishing, to use two hooks; the smaller some two feet below the other is attached to a fine line or gut leader, which latter we decidedly recommend, and denominated without any apparent reason the " fly hook." Many of the best fishermen never use more than one bait, and when the fish are large and plenty, one is sufficient. The fly bait is not generally tied on, but twisted round the hook in a manner difficult to describe.