A little to the seaward side of the apex of the reef Betty, at a word
from Lawford, cast loose the sheet and then dropped the anchor.
"Mussel beds all about here," explained the young man to his guest.
"That means good feeding for the blackfish. Can't catch them anywhere
save on a rock bottom, or around old spiles or sunken wrecks. Better
let me rig your line, Miss Grayling. You'll need a heavier sinker than
that for outside here--ten ounces at least. You see, the tug of the
undertow is considerable."
Betty Gallup, looking every whit the "able seaman" now, rigged her own
line quickly and opened the bait can.
"Land sakes!" she exclaimed. "Where'd you get scallop bait this time
o' year, Lawford? You must be a houn' dog for smellin' 'em out."
"I am," he laughed. "I know that tautog will leave mussels for scallop
any time. And we'll have the eyes of the scallops fried for lunch.
They're all ready in the cabin."
The pulpy, fat bodies of the scallop--a commercial waste--were
difficult to hang upon the short, blunt hooks; but Lawford seemed to
have just the knack of it.
Pages:
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213