EASTER.V COAST FISHES. 247 



fourths of a yard in length, and the snell to which the hook is fas- 

 tened is looped to the leader ; both leader and snell, (or snood,) 

 are double silkworm gut. 



The play of a kingfish is peculiar, though like the striped bass, 

 he takes the bait without hesitation and starts away, and when he 

 feels the prick of the hook, accelerates his speed, swimming low, 

 and making a very long and strong run. If you have never taken 

 one, you will be puzzled with his persistence in keeping down and 

 running deep, and your surprise will not be diminished when he 

 finally breaks water a hundred yards from the boat ; and you will 

 wonder, after landing a fish which has taken you nearly half an 

 hour to kill, that it weighs scarcely three pounds. 



The kingfish shoals on a clean sandy bottom, feeds on crusta 

 cea, and prefers shrimp, shedder, and soft shell crabs and lobsters. 



Anchor off Barren Island to the north of the edge of the chan- 

 nel, and expect sport. Anchor east of Cheesequick Creek on the 

 border of the channel between there and Freeport, and in August 

 and September you cannot fail of obtaining rapturous sport. 

 Caving Channel, a sandy bottom tideway from Communipaw to 

 Jersey City, is said to be a favorite run for small kingfish, where 

 good sport is often realized on the first of the flood. Kingfish 

 feed also at numerous places in the South Bay, and all along the 

 coast of New Jersey." 



THE SPARID^. 



Sheepshead ; Archosargtis probatocephalus.—GSW.. 



This splendid table fish affords the angler much sport. It 

 makes its first appearance about the bays and estuaries on the 

 first of June, and remains until the middle of September. Its 

 average weight is perhaps ten pounds, though its maximum may 

 be twenty. They are taken in greatest numbers along mussel 

 shoals and beds where they go to feed, and around old wrecks. 

 In color it is dusky grey on back and sides, whitening toward the 

 belly, and is marked by several black or dark brown bands on the 

 side. The upper part of its mouth is paved with round teeth like 

 polished cobblestones, while its jaw in front is armed with eight 

 sharp incisors. This armature is most efficient for crackinsf clams 



