36 THE HAKE OR STOCK-FISH. 



toms, above mill-dams, and in coves of the river. 

 The large ones are often taken by trolling with arti- 

 ficial squid or fly. The time for fishing cat-fish be- 

 gins in April, and lasts until cold weather. 



The Hake. 



Tin's is an Irish salt water fish, similar in appear- 

 ance to the torn cod. In Galway bay, and other sea 

 inlets of Ireland, the hake is exceedingly abundant, 

 and is taken in great i umbers. It is also found in 

 England, and France. Since the Irish immigration 

 to America, the hake has followed in the wake of 

 their masters, as it is now found in New York bay, 

 in the waters around Boston, and off Cape Cod. 

 Here it is called the stock-fish, and the Bostonians 

 call them poor Johns. [Poor Pats would be more 

 appropriate.] It is a singular fact that until within 

 a few years this fish was never seen in America. It 

 does not grow so large here as in Europe, though 

 here they are from ten to eighteen inches in length. 

 They are fished for by day or by night, and bite the 

 most readily when the tide is running strong, either 

 out or in. The tackle used is similar to that des- 

 cribed for black fish, the hook being No. 4 Limerick 

 salmon. SJirimp, clams or crabs either of them is 

 good bait. The general color of this fish is a reddish 

 brown, with some golden tints the sides being of a 

 pink silvery lustre. It is exceedingly voracious, and 

 affords considerable sport in fishing, though our 

 sportsmen seldom go in pursuit of it. 



