MnHK ('F CAITIltK. I I 



Till-: \\i-;ak I'lsii. 



Tiir. \\ cak l"isli is a very al)Mii(l:uit species iii the \ieiiiily ot' 

 New \ ork, and is :in;^Ie(l for with iniieli success in almost all 

 parts of the inner hay. The name is said to he derived from 

 the weak month of the fish, which is so soft that it verv fre- 

 (lucntly is torn hy the hook, and so allows the lish to escape. 

 It pulls fairly upon the hook, and when stiiick of a eonsiderahle 

 size, j^ives eonsiderahle play to the angler hefoic he can he 

 secured. 



Many persons fisji tor this species, and the others which 

 luiunt tiie same grounds, with the drop-line, but this is a poor 

 and unexciting sport, as compared with the use of the rod and 

 reel. 



The best rod is a moderately still" general fishing-rod, ^^ith a 

 reel, and trom one hundred to one hnndicd and lilty yards of 

 tla\ or hemp line; a Xo. I Kirl>y hook will prohahly he tound, 

 on the wh(de, the most sueci-sslnl ; ami the most killing baits 

 are shrimj), she(hlcr-cral)s, or clams. The W i ak lish occn- 

 sionally runs up to eight or niiu* pounds' weight, hut the 

 general nvernge dors not probably exceed two. When (piiti- 

 fresh out of the water, thi- S(pietea(|ue is a \ery tolerable fish, 

 not a little reseml)liug the Trout in flavour, but it very soon 



