TAUTOG, CHOGSET AND PARROT-FISH. 293 
Narragansett Bay, where they are said to be not more than one-eighth as 
numerous as they were a score of years ago.’’ Although much testimony 
has been printed in the reports of the Fish Commissions of the United 
States and of Rhode Island, the general tendency of which is to show that 
old fishermen believe that Tautog and other fish are much less abundant 
than in the days of their youth, nothing definite has yet been proved. 
The Tautog has always been a favorite table fish, especially in New 
York, its flesh being white, dry, and of a delicate flavor. Storer states 
that they are frequently pickled, and may be kept in weak brine for a long 
time, and in this state they are considered by epicures a delicacy. 
The capture of Tautog is chiefly accomplished by the line fishermen of 
Southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and the weir fishermen of the 
same district. No one fishes for Tautog alone, and it is consequently 
more difficult to estimate the quantity taken. About 200,000 pounds were 
brought to the New.York market last year. Local consumption is con- 
siderable, and the total amount annually taken may be estimated at from 
400,000 to 450,000 pounds. At least two hundred fishermen are entirely 
or partly engaged in this business between Cape Cod and New York. 
The catch of such fishermen in Narragansett Bay is estimated at 6,000 
pounds each annually. This gives in round numbers 100,000 pounds 
taken by hook and line along this stretch of coast. To this should be 
added 20,000 pounds estimated to be taken on the coast of New Jersey and 
southward, and 20,000 more north of Cape Cod. Tautog are also fre- 
quently taken in the weirs and pounds, and the catch of these for the year 
1876 was estimated as is shown in the following table: 
Pounds. 
Weirs on north side of Cape Cod..........ccccescesceeeeeeee 2,274 
Weirs on south side of Cape Cod......... cece eee ee reese 561 
Weirs in Vineyard Sound..........cccccececeeeceeeeeeeeeeeeees 29,220 
Weits In. BuZzard’s: Bay. vie. cissisieisiscigsn vole uae dhs devels tai vines 39,423 
Weirs in Narragansett Bay...........ccecceceeeceecee eeeeeees 156,750 
Weirs on Block Island..............c se eesceeeeneeeeeeeeeeeeees 335153 
Weirs in Fisher’s Island Sound..............c.ceeceeeseeeeces 14,000 
Weirs on eastern end of Long Island................0cee0ees 36,000 
311,381 
At Noank, Conn., there is in the fall a season of ‘‘ black-fishing’’ 
which continues from the middle of October until the snow beyins to fall, 
