FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



(specimens have been taken three feet in length, 

 and twenty pounds in weight) it gives a sturdy 

 fight on the rod, taking a lure of clam with 

 avidity. It is like the bluefish, a single species 

 of a single genus. 



As the tench is reputed to be the physician of 

 the pike, whose ailments it cures by rubbing its 

 slimy sides along the body of lucius, so it may be 

 said that the little cunner or bergall or blue perch is 

 the boon companion of the tautog. Wherever the 

 latter is taken, the blue perch is apt to dash for the 

 lure and steal it from his bigger brother. In fact, 

 three cunners are likely to be hooked to one black- 

 fish. These pests of the fisherman are ubiquitous, 

 and grow to a size of twelve or more inches, and 

 in the Canadian waters are said to exceed two 

 pounds in weight. If it were not for the myriads 

 of bones, the bergall would be a good table fish, 

 its flesh being tender and of good flavor. 



The common scup, porgy, or scuppaug (Steno- 

 tomus chrysops) is a well-known fish to the anglers 

 and markets of New England, south of Cape Cod, 

 north of which it is not so abundant. Its names 

 of scup and scuppaug are abbreviations of the 

 Indian miscuppaug, and that of porgy is shared 

 with an English fish and several species, so-called, 

 in southern waters of our coast, hence should be 

 258 



