246 GAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA. 



half to two pounds each off Communipaw, Kill Von Kull, and 

 Newark Bay ; but at the south end of Staten Island, in Amboy 

 Bay, and where it merges into the lower bay of New York, near 

 Freeport, and in Jamaica Bay, near Barren Island, they sometimes 

 run as heavy as five pounds. All along the South Bay and the 

 New Jersey shore and inlets this delectable fish is taken in greater 

 or less numbers in fykes, seines, pounds, and with the hand-line, 

 while they yield tithe to sportsmen with rod and reel. 



The meat of the Kingfish laminates in flakes of very close 

 texture. It is a very heavy fish for its size. Though eminently a 

 breakfast fish, yet for a chowder the epicure prefers it to sea bass 

 or cod, the acknowledged chowder fishes. The color of the fish 

 is grey, with irregular marks nearly black. It is covered with fine 

 rigid scales which extend over the head. The first dorsal fin is 

 spinous, and all of the other fins are soft-rayed. The fish pos- 

 sesses great propulsive power, as indicated by its fins, so that a 

 three-pounder at the remote end of a line, with delicate bass rod, 

 generally induces the novice to believe the strength, speed, and 

 endurance of the fish under-estimated. " Gently, but firmly," 

 are the words in playing a kingfish, which some denominate 

 " barb," because a short adipose barb shoots out beneath its lower 

 jaw ; but it bears no resemblance to the barbel family. It spawns 

 in spring time, as most white-meated fishes do ; and though rather 

 solitary in its habits, it remains in our estuaries and small bays 

 along the coast from May until November. August and Septem- 

 ber are the best months to angle for it. 



The rod is the common three-jointed bass rod from eight to ten 

 feet in length. Pivot, multiplying reel of german silver or brass, 

 large enough to carry from four to six hundred feet of fine linen 

 line ; a strong small hook, either the Virginia or Sproat's bend, 

 made of finely tempered cast steel, and needle-pointed ; a short 

 bend and low point is required, because the mouth is very small, 

 and a hook of large wire in proportion to the size of the bend is 

 necessary because of the great strength of the fish ; tracing sinker 

 of size graduated to the strength of the tide ; hence a combination 

 sinker is best, because its ponderosity may be increased or dimin- 

 ished without untying the line ; a brass swivel, to one end of which 

 the line is attached, and to the other the leader, which is three- 



