TAUTOG, CHOGSET AND PARROT-FISH. 293 



Narragansett Bay, where they are said to be not more than one-eighth as 

 numerous as they were a score of years ago." Although much testimony 

 has been printed in the reports of the Fish Commissions of the United 

 States and of Rhode Island, the general tendency of which is to show that 

 old fishermen believe that Tautog and other fish are much less abundant 

 than in the days of their youth, nothing definite has yet been proved. 



The Tautog has always been a favorite table fish, especially in New 

 York, its flesh being white, dry, and of a delicate flavor. Storer states 

 that they arc frequently pickled, and may be kept in weak brine for a long 

 time, and in this state they are considered by epicures a delicacy. 



The capture of Tautog is chiefly accomplished by the line fishermen of 

 Southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and the weir fishermen of the 

 same district. No one fishes for Tautog alone, and it is consequently 

 more difficult to estimate the quantity taken. About 200,000 pounds were 

 brought to the New York market last year. Local consumption is con- 

 siderable, and the total amount annually taken may be estimated at from 

 400,000 to 450,000 pounds. At least two hundred fishermen are entirely 

 or partly engaged in this business between Cape Cod and New York. 

 The catch of such fishermen in Narragansett Bay is estimated at 6,000 

 pounds each annually. This gives in round numbers 100,000 pounds 

 taken by hook and line along this stretch of coast. To this should be 

 added 20,000 pounds estimated to be taken on the coast of New Jersey and 

 southward, and 20,000 more north of Cape Cod. Tautog are also fre- 

 quently taken in the weirs and pounds, and the catch of these for the year 

 1 8 76 was estimated as is shown in the following table : 



Pounds. 



Weirs on north side of C^-pe Cod 2,274 



Weirs on south side of Cape Cod 561 



Weirs in Yineyard Sound 29,220 



Weirs in Buzzard's Bay 39,423 



Weirs in Narragansett Bay 156,750 



Weirs on Block Island 33'i53 



Weirs in Fisher's Island Sound 14,000 



Weirs on eastern end of Long Island 36,000 



At Noank, Conn., there is in the fall a season of '-black-fishing" 

 ■which continues from the middle of October until the snow begins to fall, 



