A GOVERNOR'S TABLE LUXURY. 465 



The spot taken in Northern waters are so small seldom 

 weighing over a quarter of a pound that it is best to fish 

 with small brook-trout hooks, single gut leader and snells, 

 and bait with small pieces of clam or shrimp. If anglers 

 will rig for them about the 20th of October, and bait and 

 fish carefully with a pair of small trout-hooks, they will be 

 rewarded with messes of pan-fish superior to any which the 

 New York markets afford at that time of year. 



SECTION THIRD. 



THE VIRGINIA HOGFISH. Lachnolcemus caninus. 



This fish differs greatly from the hogfish of the Bahamas 

 of page 98. While it offers good sport to the angler, it is 

 a superior table luxury, being so oily as to fry itself; and its 

 white and juicy meat is sweet and of excellent relish. The 

 dorsals and caudal fins, with the top of the head, are black ; 

 black back, and fading to a light-gray abdomen, with pecto- 

 ral, anal, and ventral fins a gray, with yellowish tinge. The 

 irregular marks with which the fish is ornamented are a gold 

 color. This fish is toothless, except very fine pin-teeth in the 

 edge of the jaws and on the palate. Its weight is from a 

 half to two pounds ; bites at clam, shedder, and small bright 

 bits of the scup. It is taken on light bass tackle, bites read- 

 ily, and gives good play. 



The shadine belongs to a family of the mullet tribes ; is 



GG 



