Popular Bottom Sea Fish 



passes it on to the crushers, when a pecuHar suc- 

 cession of bites is felt by the angler, who loses 

 many a fine fish by being too hasty to 



S Tak^n* ^°°^ ^*- ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ indication is felt 

 of a fish taking the bait, it should be 

 struck sharply. The tautog bites like a sheeps- 

 head, but with less power. It is an adept at get- 

 ting hooks or sinkers fast in the clefts, for as soon 

 as it bites and feels the barb it darts under or be- 

 tween rocks, leaving the angler thankful if the 

 fish liberates the hook or sinker at the price of 

 freedom. 



THE KINGFISH 



The kingfish is perhaps the gamest for its size 



of bottom feeders that inhabit salt water. All 



anglers have the the best opinion of it, and with 



one accord, after it is landed exclaim, "What a 



dandy!" Its gamy qualities, its beauty of color 



^ . . and form, as well as its excellent flavor. 

 Description i i i i • • p >.- ^^ i 



caused the loyal citizens ot JN ew i ork 



in Colonial days to call this species the kingfish. 

 In former times when they were much more abun- 

 dant in New York Bay, the kingfish and small 

 striped bass were the crowTiing glory of old-time 

 anglers. The kingfish is also known as the hake 

 on the coast of New Jersey and Delaware, as the 

 toracod on the coast of Connecticut, the barb, 

 and black mullet in the Chesapeake, the sea mink 

 in North Carolina, and sometimes also in the 

 South as the whiting. 



103 



