44 THE WEAK-FISH. 



The Weak-fish, or Wheat Fish. 



This is a sea-fish found only in Northern waters, 

 chiefly those of New York and Massachusetts. The 

 head and back is of dark brown color, with a green- 

 ish tinge. The sides are of a faint silvery hue, with 

 dusky specks, and the belly is white. Some people 

 suppose the name (weak-fish) to have originated in 

 the apathy of the fish after being hooked, but this is 

 not so, for he frequently makes the most determined 

 and energetic struggles to escape. It is either a per- 

 version of wheat-fish which name originated in the 

 fact that harvest time is the period to fish them, or 

 else in the peculiar weakness of the muscles of his 

 mouth. He is usually handsome looking, and is ex- 

 cellent eating, but his flesh is softer than that of 

 some of the best of our pan-fish, which is an objec- 

 tion. The common size of this fish is twelve to 

 fifteen inches in length, though in some instances he 

 grows larger. His feeding ground is the same as 

 the striped bass in salt water, and they are often 

 caught with the bass; but the weak-fish never goes 

 into fresh water. An angler for bass, if not success- 

 ful, has only to arrange his tackle, and drop his line 

 a little deeper to catch this fish. 



The bait used for weak-fish i,s the shedder-crab 

 and the shrimp, and sometimes he will bite freely at 

 a clam bait. You should fish them at evening tide, 

 when the tide is pretty well in, two hours before 

 sunset. A large No. 1 light Kirby hook, or a slightly 

 curbed Limerick, are the kind used. Tackle similar 



