THE BLACK-FISH. 



179 



not originally known in Massachusetts bay; but within a few 

 years he has been carried beyond Cape Cod, and has multi- 

 plied so abundantly that the Boston market has now a full 

 supply, without the necessity of importing from Newport and 

 Providence. Black-fish, however, does not confine himself 

 to rough bottoms ; for he is also caught in the southern bays 

 of Long Island, and on the banks of the ocean off Sandy 

 Hook. He is considered, by the New-Yorkers, as a very 

 fine fish for the table. He grows to the weight of ten or 

 twelve pounds, and even more ; but it is a fish of a good size, 

 that equals two or three. 



"He may be kept for a long time in ponds or cars; and 

 fed, and even fatted there. When the cold of winter be- 

 numbs him he refuses to eat any more, and a membrane is 

 observed to form over the vent, and close it. He begins to 

 regain appetite with the return of warmth in the sping. The 

 blossoming of the dogwood, (cornus florida,) early in April, 

 is understood to denote the time of baiting black-fish. As 

 soon as these flowers unfold, the fishermen proceed with 

 their hooks and lines to the favorite places. If there is no 

 dogwood, a judgment is derived from the vegetation of the 

 chestnut tree (castanea vesca). The season of baiting is 

 reckoned very favorable until the increasing warmth of the 

 season brings food enough to fill their stomachs, and they 

 thereupon afford less pastime to the sportsman and less profit 

 to the professor. The people express this sentiment in these 

 coarse rhymes: 



" ' When chestnut leaves are as big as thumb nail, 

 Then bite black-fish without fail ; 

 But when chestnut leaves are as long as a span, 

 Then catch black-fish if you can.' " 



"The common bait for black -fish is the soft clam, or pisser 

 (mya.) The soldier crab, or fiddler, (ocypoaa.) will fre- 



