294 AMERICAAr FISHES. 



about the first of December. About twenty-five men are engaged in this 

 fishery during the season specified, some of whom begin a month or two 

 earlier. They fish in Fisher's Island Sound at a depth of six to eight 

 fathoms, using crabs and lobsters for bait. The average catch of each 

 man for the season is estimated by Capt. Ashby at one thousand pounds. 

 The most northerly point where there is a regular fishery for them is, as 

 has already been mentioned, in Wellfleet harbor. According to DeKay, 

 three smacks were constantly employed from April to November. These 

 smacks doubtless, then as now, hailed from Connecticut. In 1879, these 

 vessels were still upon the old ground, one of them hailing from Westport 

 and one or two from New London. One of the skippers was said to have 

 fished upon this ground every season for thirty years. I was told m Well- 

 fleet that they ordinarily remained about three weeks to fill their wells, 

 obtaining in that time from two to four thousand pounds. 



Angling for Tautog from rocks is a favorite pursuit of amateur fishermen 

 all along the coast, particularly about New York, where there are pre- 

 cipitous shores, the anglers standing upon the rocks. July 12, 1879, Capt. 

 S. J. Martin caught in this way, at Eastern Point, Gloucester, seven, two 

 of which weighed twenty-one and a half pounds. In Long Island Sound 

 and other protected waters they are usually fished for from boats anchored 

 among the reefs or near wrecked vessels. INIitchill, writing in 1814, 

 describes the methods of this fishery better than any other subsequent 

 authority : " Rocky shores and bottoms are the haunts of Blackfish. Long 

 experience is required to find all these places of resort. Nice observations 

 on the landmarks in different directions are requisite to enable a fishing 

 party to anchor on the proper spot. For example, when a certain rock 

 and tree range one way, with a barn window appearing over a headland 

 the other way, the boat lying at the point where two such lines intersect 

 each other, is exactly over some famous rendezvous. At some places 

 Blackfish bite best upon the flood. In others they are voracious 

 during the ebb. Thunder accompanying a shower is an indication that no 

 more of them can be caught. The appearance of a porpoise infallibly 

 puts an end to the sport. Dull weather with an easterly wind is generally 

 the omen of ill luck. Some persons who live contiguous to the shores 

 where are situated the rocks which are frequented by Tautog, invite 

 the fish there by baiting. By this is meant the throwing overboard 

 broken clams or crabs to induce the Blackfish to renew their visits ; and 

 fine sport is procured." 



