THE BLACK-FISH. 183 



The rod proper for taking black-fish, should be similar to 

 that described for trolling, say about twelve feet long, and 

 quite stiff; the line stout, and of strong flax or hemp; and 

 although not absolutely necessary for black-fish alone, should 

 be attached to a good running reel ; by this arrangement, the 

 sportsman will be prepared, which is often the case, to meet 

 a drum or large basse, which are sometimes found on the same 

 grounds. The hook in use for black-fish, varies in size, with 

 many anglers, some preferring quite a small size for 

 taking the largest size fish, say about No. 10 ; and others, 

 ranging from No. 3 to No. 5, the most proper sizes for 

 general fishing. These hooks, it will be noticed, by 

 referring to plate 2. of hooks, are made of much stronger 

 wire, and are known amongst anglers and dealers in tackle, 

 as the black-fish hook. The hook should be attached to a 

 strong piece of flax line about ten to fifteen inches in length ; 

 and if you angle with two hooks, they should be from four to 

 six inches apart; your sinker should vary according to the 

 tide, and be fixed above your hooks about twelve or 

 fifteen inches. Some anglers prefer twisted gut lengths* 

 to their hooks instead of flax; but as the tautog lies chiefly 

 on rocky ground and on sharp stony bottoms, and are not 

 very shy, it is hardly necessary to run the risk of losing gut 

 tackle when plain line will answer. 



The black fish being a bottom fish altogether, does not 

 admit of such variety of modes of capture as others of the 

 briny element. The most common mode of taking him is 



* Others use short lengths of gimp. An old and experienced angler, 

 who is very fond of taking the tautog, says that to fish pleasantly and 

 with expedition, he always attaches his hooks to twisted snells com- 

 posed of three strands of strong gut. In this manner he avoids the delay 

 and perplexity occasioned by the frequent entangling of the ordinary 

 flax line snells, and can take more fish than by any other method 



