United States

UNITED STATES Sea angling in the United States has enrolled more new mem bers since 1918 than any other sport. This is largely due to cheap and rapid transportation. Where in the days of the old sail boats it would take five or six hours to reach a spot off shore, the same run is now made in an hour or so with a cer tainty of getting back within a specified time. In 1918 there were perhaps five or six open deep-sea fishing boats leaving from New York or nearby ports. Ten years later there was a fleet of over zoo. Inland anglers, tired of catching smaller species of fresh water fish, go from Cincinnati, Pittsburgh or other inland cities to try their luck for the big fish along the shores of Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, or to the west coast for tuna or broadbilI swordfish.

Big-fish angling has advanced more than any other branch of angling. Big-fish hunters on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts have caught with rod and reel tuna weighing up to 758 lb. and broadbill swordfish of more than 500 lb. In 1926, in the waters of New Zealand, an American with rod and reel landed a black marlin swordfish that tipped the scale at 976 lb. It seems almost impos sible to believe that human ingenuity has made rods, reels and lines capable of landing fish of such great size. There are many sea anglers who catch their fish on the lightest possible tackle, and valuable prizes are offered for landing huge game fish with this tackle. In fact, one club in America permits its members to use only cotton thread, and striped bass, weakfish or bluefish over io lb., handled on this thread, take considerable time and skill to land.

The tackle used for sea angling consists of a rod made of six strips of bamboo glued together, or hickory, bathabara, green heart, black palm, lancewood or palma brava woods. To these rods are attached guides, preferably of agate. At the end of the rod is a butt upon which is affixed a reel seat, made of German silver, to which the reel is fastened. Butts are made of hickory or other wood, and wound with either cane or cork. Only lines of linen should be used and great care should be exercised when drying them as rust spots will prove disastrous. The hooks, sinkers and various lures differ according to the species of fish sought. There are hundreds of species of salt-water fish which abound on the east and west coasts of the United States. In fact in the salt waters bordering on Florida there are more than 60o species, but there will be discussed here only those that are most sought after for their gameness and flesh by the followers of Izaak Walton.

Flounders, Fluke and Halibut.

Flounders are caught on the east coast from Maine to Virginia and usually come out of their mud beds about February. They are found in bays or inlets where there is a sandy bottom. A light rod is employed in their capture, the tip of which should weigh 3 or 4 oz. A nine or ten Chestertown hook, six thread linen line and a sinker just heavy enough to hold bottom in the tide should be used. The hooks should be tied closely to the sinker as the flounder is a bottom feeder, and sand, blood or earth worms should be used as a lure. As the flounder has an exceedingly small mouth and has a habit of sucking in the bait, do not try to strike him at the first nibble, but allow plenty of time for the bait and hook to pass into the mouth before sinking the hook. Flounders weigh from lb. to 4 lb. each, with an occasional specimen of 6 lb. Net fishermen have brought them in weighing over i o lb. each.

The fluke is of the flat species, belonging to the flounder family, but is larger in size and has a fairly big mouth with teeth. He is found in the oceans, inlets and bays, usually along sandy, clean bottoms. A rod with a tip weighing 5 oz. to 6 oz. is used and a linen line of six to nine thread, affixed to which is a gut leader about 3 ft. long. A number 4 to io Kirby hook is the right size. Killies spearing or cut-fish bait is used principally as lures. The fluke may be taken at any time during the day regardless of tides. The best method of capture is to allow the boat to drift over the grounds where fluke have their habitat, allowing bait to drag on the bottom. Fluke weigh from i lb. to 16 lb. ; occasionally one is brought in by the beam trawlers weighing from 20 to 25 lb.

Halibut are rarely sought by anglers owing to the fact that their habitat is so far off shore that it is difficult to reach them. They are usually taken at the banks off Newfoundland and off the coast of California, Oregon and Washington. The largest halibut ever known to be caught was landed off the Grand Banks about 1918 and weighed 68o lb.

Striped Bass, Seabass, Porgies and Blackfish.

The striped bass is a much sought after salt-water fish, and ranges from Maine to the Carolinas. In 1886, 300 of them were taken from the Shrewsbury river of New Jersey and planted in the waters of Cali fornia. They have flourished on the west coast because of the strictly enforced laws in California protecting them. They can be taken from April to November and are found in the ocean close to shore, in bays and rivers of brackish water. The rod should weigh from 3 oz. to i o oz. and the line should be of linen from 6 to 15 thread. A 4 to r o-O Sproat hook affixed to gut is used when bait fishing, and crabs, clams, worms, eels, mullet and cut up fish are used as lures. They will also strike a lead squid or spoon. They are caught at any time of day or night and on almost any tide. Striped bass weigh from i lb. to 73 lb.—the world's record by angling. But specimens have been taken in the nets weighing over i oo lb.

Seabass range from Long Island to the Carolinas. They re semble, somewhat, fresh-water bass, and come in huge schools, having their habitat around rocks or wrecks. A 5 oz. or 6 oz. rod is used in their capture, and the line should be of from 9 to 12 thread. They feed on sea clams, squid (inkfish) and mossbunker. A 3 to 5-0 Sproat or O'Shaughnessy hook should be used and a sinker heavy enough to hold bottom. As a rule when a seabass hits the lure he hooks himself and gives a fair account of himself, considering his size. Seabass weigh from lb. to 7 lb., and are eagerly sought after by the deep-sea anglers of New Jersey and Long Island.

Porgies usually make their appearance with the seabass and are caught on the same tackle. The blackfish or tautog is caught over rocks and wrecks in the oceans and bays from Maine to the Caro linas. A number r to 6 Virginia hook is employed and the same tackle used as prescribed for seabass. Blackfish feed on clams, crabs and worms. The larger fish, being suspicious, are hard to hook, but they usually give warning before they take hold, and it is advisable to allow a blackfish plenty of time to let the bait pass well into his jaws before setting the hook.

Cod, Pollock, Hake and Ling.

These species are caught along the Atlantic coast from Newfoundland to Virginia and also along the west coast. A rod weighing from 6 oz. to t o oz. is used and the line should be from 12 to 15 thread. The hooks can be either 6-0 to 9-0 Sproat or O'Shaughnessy, and clams, conchs, scallop guts or cut-fish bait are used as lure. These species are caught during the spring and winter. At times they come fairly close to shore, but are usually taken from im. to ram. from the shore line, in water anywhere from 6oft. to 9oft. deep. They can hardly be termed game fish. The cod usually captured by angling weighs from 3 to 6o lb. These four species travel together and often on one ground all four may be taken on the same day.

Bluefish and Weakfish.

These two species are eagerly sought by anglers from Massachusetts south to Florida. They are both game, hard fighting fish with the bluefish the harder fighter of the two. In fact, the bluefish is classed by many as being the gamest fish for his weight and size that swims the Seven Seas. He is a veritable bulldog at the end of a swaying rod and knows every trick of getting away. Tackle employed for the capture of weakfish and bluefish consists of a rod weighing from 3 to 6 oz. The line should be of linen from 6 to 12 thread. A 3-0 to 7-0 Sproat or O'Shaughnessy hook is best. Bluefish are usually caught by trolling with a lead spoon or squid or by grinding up moss bunker and throwing it overboard thus causing what is known as a slick which runs from the boat out across the water with the tide bringing the bluefish close to the boat. A piece of bunker bait is affixed to the hook, which is attached to 4ft. or 5ft. of German silver wire. This is thrown overboard and allowed to drift out in the chum line.

Weakfish are chummed to the boat using small shrimp or moss bunker and as a bait for weakfish, crabs, cut-fish, large sand or blood worms, squid (inkfish) or shrimp are used. These fish can be taken during the day or night and bite on the first of the flood and the last of the ebb tides. Weakfish range in weight from i lb.

to 16 lb. and some which weighed over 20 lb. have been taken in the nets by professional fishermen. The bluefish range in weight about the same as weakfish, and a io or 12 pounder of either of these species is a prize worth angling for.

Channel Bass and Drum.

Channel bass or red drum is dis tinguishable from the ordinary drum by a black spot near its tail. It is shaped somewhat like striped bass and is a fine fighter. It may be caught from New Jersey south to Florida, and is found feeding close to shore along the surf, in inlets and bays. A rod weighing from r o oz. to 12 oz., a linen line, 6 to 15 thread, and 3-0 Ring Virginia hooks, affixed to German silver wire 2ft. long should be used. The best lures for these fish are menhaden, crabs and mullet. They are caught from May to October during the day or night ; nightfall is the best, on the flood tide. Channel bass weigh from 5 lb. to 65 lb. Drum fish are often caught weighing 7o lb. and 8o lb., but do not give one the battle that the channel bass does.

Tuna, Albacore and Bonita.

These three species are similar in shape, but differ in their markings and size. The bonita is the smallest with the albacore next in size. They are usually found feeding on the same grounds and all three are swift swimmers and hard fighters. Heavy tackle is employed because one usually is seeking tuna. The tackle is so strong that little difficulty is experienced in reeling in a bonita of 6 lb. or an albacore of 20 lb., when one is after tuna weighing zoo lb. or 300 lb. These three species are usually caught while trolling and various artificial lures are affixed to a 9ft. German silver wire leader. The rod is ex tremely heavy, weighing in the neighbourhood of 16 oz. The reel is a huge affair, weighing 7 or 8 lb., and is capable of holding 9ooft. to I2ooft. of number 36 thread line. These fish range along the Atlantic coast from Canada to Florida and also in the Pacific ocean, off California. They are taken from daylight to sunset.

When one is fishing from an anchored boat, cut-fish bait is used as a lure. Tuna range in weight from 3o lb. to 1500 lb. The larg est ever taken by angling weighed lb. They are rarely caught off the Long Island or New Jersey coasts weighing more than I oo lb. ; but in the Pacific ocean, many weighing well over this weight have been captured. The tuna is one of the most powerful fish that swims and a big speci men will give an angler a tussle long to be remembered. They never jump clear of the water and have a tendency after being hooked to go down to the bottom and must be "pumped" up.

Broadbill and Marlin Swordfish.—Within recent years these two species have claimed many devotees, who concentrate their efforts around Catalina is land, Calif., where hundreds of both of these species have been taken. The same tackle that is employed for tuna is used for swordfish, only a whole fish of two or three pounds is used as the lure, or a large portion of cut-fish. They are difficult to entice to take the bait and are hard to hook once they have struck it with their bill. When one is hooked, since the jaws are soft, when the fish leaps clear of the water the hook is often thrown from the fish's mouth. The most experienced broadbill swordfisherman tries to snag the fish anywhere in the body but the mouth.

The first broadbill swordfish taken by angling off the Atlantic seaboard was landed off Montauk, L.I., in 1927. This fish weighed 193 lb. Expert broadbill swordfishermen claim this species to be more prolific off Block island, R.I., and Montauk, L. I., than at the famous waters around Catalina island, and the capture of this fish should open up a new swordfishing resort in the east. Sword fish rarely weigh under Ioo lb., and go to Soo lb. or 600 lb., with the world's record for any fish caught by rod and reel being held by a black marlin 976 lb. swordfish taken in 1926 off New Zealand.

Tarpon.

Tarpon or silver king, is the most advertised fish in the world. It is caught on the east and west coasts of Florida. in the Gulf of Mexico and off Panama. It is a huge herring and when hooked leaps many feet into the air. The rods used for its capture weigh 6 oz., 8 oz. and 12 oz. The line should be of linen 9 to 24 thread, and hooks 8-0 to r o-O O'Shaughnessy. The tar pon are found in bays and inlets and the best time to seek them is on moonlight nights during the flood tide. They may be caught from February to June, May and June being the best months. One uses a spoon while trolling, and when still fishing, mullet or cut-fish. Tarpon weigh anywhere from r o lb. to 200 lb. with the average fish weighing about roo lb. They are practically useless as food, and many anglers after catching them allow them their freedom.

Sailfish.

The sailfish resembles the swordfish. It derives its name from the huge dorsal fin that extends a foot or two above the body, resembling a sail. They also clear the water by many feet when hooked, and are eagerly sought in the waters off Florida and off southern California. About the same tackle is employed as in the capture of the tarpon. Five to 8-0 tandem hooks, baited with cut-fish, usually are most effective. The sailfish is a surface feeder and is caught by trolling in the daytime. Sailfish weigh from 3o lb. to i oo lb., a new world's record being established in 1927 with a sailfish caught off Panama measuring r o-f t. in length, and weigh ing 177 lb. They are an exceedingly difficult fish to hook owing to their unreadiness to take the lure into their mouths. Hooking a sailfish is an art that some anglers cannot master even after repeated trials.

Bonefish.

Veteran anglers claim the bonefish to be one of the gamest fish that swims. They are the colour of mother of pearl, are long and have a streamlike body, with tail and fins of large proportions which send them through the water with lightning speed. They are found in shallow water in Florida and the Bimini islands. The rod universally used weighs 6 oz. ; the line is of linen, 9 thread; the hook is I to I-O Sproat. Hermit crab is the best lure. They are taken from February to June at almost any time of day. They are exceedingly shy and are usually sighted in the r 8in. to 24in. of water in which they swim by their tails sticking out of the water when they are rooting for food at the bottom. Bonefish weigh from 3 lb. to ro lb. When fishing in southern waters on either the east or west coast along with the tarpon and sailfish, one catches barracuda, amberjack, yellow tail, king mackerel and a host of other species, all of which are caught on the same tackle as is used for tarpon or sailfishing. The same lures are likewise effective with these species. (F. FL.) BIBLIOGRAPHY.-W. J. Turrell, Ancient Angling Authors (19io) ; B. Bibliography.-W. J. Turrell, Ancient Angling Authors (19io) ; B. Dean, A Bibliography of Fishes, Amer. Mus. of Nat. Hist. (ed. by C. R. Eastman, 1916-23) ; J. W. Hills, A History of Fly-Fishing for Trout (1921) ; W. S. Sparrow, Angling in British Art (1923) ; W. Radcliffe, Fishing from the Earliest Times (2nd ed. 1926).

Methods and Practice—General Fresh-Water Fishing—H. G. Hutch inson, etc., Fishing, Country Life series (19o4) ; H. C. Pennell, etc., Fishing (1904 edition, Badminton Library) ; F. Francis, A Book on Angling (7th ed., ed. by Sir H. Maxwell, 192o) ; J. Bickerdyke, The Book of All-Round Angling (3rd ed., rev. 1922) ; W. A. Hunter, etc., Fisherman's Pie (1926) .

Salmon and Trout—(1) J. P. Traherne, The Habits of the Salmon (1889) ; G. M. Kelson, The Salmon Fly (1895) ; A. E. Gathorne Hardy, The Salmon, Fur, Feather and Fin series (1898) ; Sir H. Max well, Salmon and Sea Trout (1898) ; Lord Grey of Fallodon, Fly Fish ing, Haddon Hall Library (4th ed. 1907) ; J. J. Hardy, Salmon Fish ing (1907) ; J. A. Hutton, Rod Fishing for Salmon on the Wye (192o) ; R. A. Chrystal, Angling Theories and Methods (1927).

Wet-Fly Fishing.—W. C. Stewart, The Practical Angler (8th ed. 1907) ; W. E. Hodgson, Trout-Fishing (3rd ed. 1908) ; A. Ronalds, The Fly-Fisher's Entomology (12th ed. 1921) .

Dry-Fly Fishing.—H. A. Rolt, Grayling Fishing in South Country Streams (2nd ed., 1905) ; F. M. Halford, Modern Development of the Dry-Fly (191o), and Dry-Fly Fishing in Theory and Practice (1913) ; T. E. Pryce Tannatt, How to Dress Salmon Flies (1914) ; J. H. Hale, How to Tie Salmon Flies (2nd ed., rev. 1919) ; M. E. Mosely, Dry Fly Entomology (a supplement to F. M. Halford's Modern Develop ment, etc.), (1921) ; L. West, The Natural Trout Fly and its Imitation (2nd ed., Liverpool, 1921) ; G. E. M. Skues, Minor Tactics of the Chalk Stream (3rd ed. 1924) ; H. G. McClelland, How to Tie Flies for Trout and Grayling (new ed. 1927).

Coarse Fish.—C. H. Wheeley, Coarse Fish, Angler's Library (1897) ; A. J. Jardine, Pike and Perch, Angler's Library (1898) ; W. Senior, etc., Pike and Perch, Fur, Feather and Fin series (1900) ; H. T. Sher ingham, Coarse Fishing (1912), and Elements of Angling (3rd ed.

1921) ; J. Bickerdyke, The Book of All-Round Angling (3rd ed., rev. 1922) ; T. S. Gray, Pike Fishing (1923) ; J. W. Martin, Coarse Fish Angling (rev. ed. 1924) ; E. F. Spence, The Pike Fisher (1928).

Sea Fish.—F. G. Aflalo, Sea Fish, Angler's Library ; J. Bickerdyke, Sea Fishing, Badminton Library (i895), and Practical Letters to Sea Fishers (2nd ed., rev. 1902) ; C. O. Minchin, Sea Fishing (1911) ; F. D. Holcombe, Modern Sea Angling (2nd ed. 1923) .

Ichthyology, Fisheries, Fish Culture, etc.—Dr. A. C. L. G. Gunther, Introduction to the Study of Fishes (188o) ; Dr. Francis Day, British and Irish Salmonidae (1887), also Fishes of Great Britain and Ire land (1889), both works still recognized authorities; J. J. Armistead, An Angler's Paradise (Dumfries, 1902) ; Dr. D. S. Jordan, A Guide to the Study of Fishes (1905) ; W. L. Calderwood, The Life of the Salmon (1907) ; P. D. Malloch, The History of the Salmon and other Fresh Water Fish (191o), an important contribution to the new "scale" literature ; C. Tate Regan, British Fresh Water Fishes (191I) ; C. F. Holder, The Game Fishes of the World (1913) ; W. J. M. Menzies, The Salmon, Its Life Story (1925), also various documents among the literature of the Scottish Fishery Board; F. M. Halford, Making a Fishery (latest issue in Dry-Fly Man's Hand-book) ; J. Travis Jenkins, The Fishes of the British Isles (1925) ; W. Carter Platts, Trout Streams, their Management and Improvement (1927).

Geographical Literature.—For the British Isles the fine series of books produced by Augustus Grimble, The Salmon Rivers of Scotland, Salmon Rivers of England and Wales, and Salmon Rivers of Ireland (190o-04) are still of value, though conditions have changed since they appeared. The Salmon Rivers and Lochs of Scotland, by W. L. Calderwood (new ed. 1921) is also worthy of special note. Where to Fish: The Angler's Diary (published periodically) gives a long list of books of geographical importance for various parts of the world, besides catalogues of fishing literature published in recent years and a record of later history and developments. There are now many local guidebooks published by railways, steamship companies and other bodies interested in publicity work.

Fishery Law.—Oke's Fishery Laws, edited by Hubert Hull (1924, latest ed.), a revision made necessary by the new Act of 1923.