The blackfish, as indicated by the name, has a black tinge, especially 

 along the back, fading to gray on the sides ; the head is large, the back 

 arched, giving the fish a clumsy appearance, but he resists capture in a 

 vigorous manner, and the larger specimens, ten to twelve pounds in 

 weight, are considered prizes even by expert anglers. 



As the tautog is one of the earliest of sea fishes to visit Northern 

 waters, arriving in April and remaining until late in October, it is a 

 familiar favorite with the boys and with anglers of larger growth who do 

 not hold tenaciously to the creed that no fish are worth angling for except 

 those that will rise to surface lures. The blackfish feeds along the bottom, 

 in swift, rocky tideways, and narrow channels — the Harlem Kills and little 

 Hell Gate being famous resorts for New Yorkers fond of tautog fishing, 

 though in recent years the species is not found in large numbers near the 

 metropolis. 



The best bait for this kind of fishing are sandworms, clams or fiddler 

 crabs; the hook should be of heavy wire, and rest within perhaps a foot 

 of the bottom. With such appliances — similar to the tackle used for weak- 

 fishing — good numbers of blackfish may be taken at Montauk Point, at 

 Barnegat, off Long Branch or Rockaw^ay. 



THE KINGFISH. 



"Off where the slender light-house lifts, 



Like sheeted ghost, above the surge, 

 Casting its warning flames at night 



Far to the dim horizon's verge, 

 Round sunken reef and hidden rock 



Where shells and sands inlay the floor 

 Of ocean, there the kingfish glide 



And the sea's secret worlds explore." 



In Southern waters, where the kingfish is abundant, it is known as the 

 whiting, and in other localities it is termed the barb, but under whatever 

 name it may be designated it is a dainty morsel for the epicure and a gal- 

 lant fish for the angler. Fifty years ago, when William T. Porter, " Frank 

 Forester," Dr. Bethune, Genio C. Scott, and William C. Prime formed a 

 famous angling coterie in the Atlantic metropolis, the kingfish was found 

 in abundance in the vicinity of New York City. Now it is comparatively 

 scarce in that locality, but in South Bay and off the New Jersey coast it is 

 found in fair numbers during the summer season. 



For its size, as compared to other species, the kingfish is one of the 

 gamest inhabitants of the sea. It is long and tapering, and is distin- 

 guished for the size of the first dorsal fin, which is high, and adorned 



