THE SHEEPSH&AD. 197 



They even tell of thousands being brought to land at a 

 draught. 



" He also bites at the hook, and is not unfrequently 

 caught in succession. The outfitting of a sheepsheading 

 party, is always an occasion of considerable parade and high 

 expectation, as I have often experienced. Whenever a 

 sheepshead is brought on board the boat, more joy is mani- 

 fested than by the possession of any other kind of fish. The 

 sportsmen view the exercise so much above common fishing, 

 that the capture of the sheepshead is the most desirable com- 

 bination of luck with skill ; and the feats of hooking and pull- 

 ing him in, furnish materials for the most hyperbolical stories 

 The sheepshead is a very stout fish, and the hooks and lines 

 are strong in proportion. Yet he frequently breaks them, 

 and makes his escape. Sheepshead have been caught with 

 such fish tackle fastened to their jaws. When the line and 

 hook gives way, the accident makes a serious impression on 

 the company. As the possession of the sheepshead is a grand 

 prize, so his escape is felt a distressing loss. I knew an an- 

 cient fisherman, who used to record in a book the time, 

 place, and circumstance, of every sheepshead he had caught." 



" This fish is sometimes speared, by torch-light, in the 

 wide and shallow bays of Queens and Suffolk counties, Long 

 Island. 



" The places where he is found in the greatest abundance, 

 are about 40 miles from the city. He soon dies after being 

 removed from his element, and in such sultry weather soon 

 spoils after death." 



The proper tackle for taking this fish is precisely the same 

 as that used for the largest black-fish, to wit : a stout drop- 

 line, of hemp or cotton, from fifty to one hundred and fifty 

 feet in length, and about one-fourth of an inch in thickness, 

 and heavy sinker, according to tide and depth of water, and 

 a stout black-fish hook of the largest size, each of which 



