Bait Angling for Common Fishes 



two and one-half pounds. The tautog 

 is found In greater or lesser abundance 

 from St. Johns, N. B., to Charleston, S. C., 

 and is known in various places as black- 

 fish, tautog chub, moll, will-george and 

 oyster fish. East of New York it is usually 

 called tautog, a name given it by the Nar- 

 ragansett Indians. The tautog do not like 

 very cold water, and take refuge from it 

 by returning in winter to somewhat deeper 

 water than that preferred in summer. 

 Here they appear to take shelter under the 

 stones and crevices of the rocks, where 

 they enter upon an actual state of hiberna- 

 tion, ceasing to feed, and their vital func- 

 tions partially suspended. It is certain 

 that they do not retreat far from the shore 

 in winter, and that very cold weather, 

 especially in connection with a run of low 

 tides, often causes very remarkable fatali- 

 ties. As may be inferred from its haunts 

 and from the character of its strong, sharp 

 teeth, the tautog's food consists of hard- 

 shelled mollusks, squids, scallops, barnacles 

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