TAUTOG. 

 Tautoga Americana. 



Also known as " New York Tautog " 

 and " New York Black-fish." They fre- 

 quent our coast from Massachusetts to 

 Virginia, from May to October. Usual 

 weight from two to four pounds ; some 

 few attain ten or fifteen pounds. 



Tautogs are found near rocks, reefs, and 

 wrecks, in shoal water ; do not ascend 

 rivers. They retire into deep water in 

 gloomy weather, and are shy of thunder. 

 No fish of their size pull more strongly or 

 bite sharper. 



The angling is all bottom- fishing. Troll- 

 ing is done with a stout rod of from twelve 

 to fifteen feet. Line flaxen, from seventy- 

 five to one hundred feet, with snell ; hook, 

 Black-fish, from No. lo downward ; use 

 sinker. Bait with clam, crab, shrimp, 

 worm, mussels, or flesh. Pull firmly and 

 quickly. 



48 



