286 LABRIDiE. 



The dorsal fin has seventeen low spinous rays, and ten soft 

 rays ; the pectorals, seventeen soft; the ventrals, one spinous, five 

 soft ; the anal, three spinous and eight soft ; the caudal, fourteen 

 soft branched rays. 



The Tautog ranges only from the capes of the Cheasapeake to 

 Massachusetts Bay. He is readily taken with the hook baited 

 Avith crabs, clams, or other small shell-fish, from April untU 

 late in the autumn, especially in the vicinity of rocks, reefs, hulls 

 of sunken wrecks, or old deserted docks, where he finds food in 

 abundance. It is well to bait the ground largely for several 

 days in advance of fishing for him. 



