58 THE BLACK FISH. 



throwing in soft clams. In this way they are brought 

 so near to shore as to be taken with a stout rod, and 

 strong tackle, though the usual mode of fishing them 

 is from a boat with a hand line. When using the 

 rod, you should have a landing net, or you may lose 

 all your fish. They generally go in schools, and if 

 you catch one you may get a good string of them. 

 They are considered by some people the best eating 

 sea fish that is caught, though their meat is a little 

 tough. If cooked properly, they do make an excel- 

 lent dish. They should be split in slices and broiled 

 on the gridiron. The sheepshead is caught in nearly 

 all the rocky places round Long Island. Regular 

 fishermen use nets and spears with good success. 

 Spearing them by torchlight is a favorite amusement 

 with some sportsmen. 



The Black Fish. 



This fish was called the tautog by the Indians. It 

 is caught in the vicinity of Massachusetts and New 

 York Bays, in Long Island Sound, and in nearly all 

 the inlets of Rhode Island. Of late years, black 

 fish have increased in numbers, notwithstanding the 

 numbers caught to supply the Boston and New York 

 markets. The upper end of Long Island is a famous 

 place to catch them. Their feeding ground is gene- 

 rally on rocky bottoms, and reefs, though they are 

 caught in other places. It is a singular fact that 

 those found close in on rocky reefs are shorter or 

 more chubby, and of a darker color, than those that 



