MODE OF CAPTUKE. 411 



THE WEAK FISH. 



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The Weak Fish is a very abundant species in the vicinity of 

 New York, and is angled for with much success in almost all 

 parts of the inner bay. The name is said to be derived from 

 the weak mouth of the fish, which is so soft that it very fre- 

 quently is torn by the hook, and so allows the fish to escape. 

 It pulls fairly upon the hook, and when struck of a considerable 

 size, gives considerable play to the angler before he can be 

 secured. 



Many persons fish for this species, and the others which 

 haunt the 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 stiff general fishing-rod, with a 

 reel, and from one hundred to one hundred and fifty yards of 

 flax or hemp line; a No. 1 Kirby hook will probably be found, 

 on the whole, the most successful ; and the most killing baits 

 are shrimp, sheddei -crabs, or clams. The Weak Fish occa- 

 sionally runs up to eight or nine pounds' weight, but the 

 general average does not probably exceed two. When quite 

 fresh out of the water, the Squeteaque is a very tolerable fish, 

 not a little resembling the Trout in flavour, but it very soon 



