CHAPTER XIV 



THE WHITE SEA BASS AND WEAKFISH 



' His drumming heart cheers up his burning eye.' 



jRope of Luorece. 



IS" the quaint Praise of New Netherland, written by one Jacob 

 Steendam in 1661, he refers to the White Sea Bass family : 



' You've weakfish, carp and turbot, pike and plaice, 

 There's not a pool or water trail, 

 Where swam not myriads of the finny race.' 



The weakfish belongs to the generic tribe of Cynosdon, of 

 which there are three species on the Atlantic coast. For two 

 centuries thousands of anglers in and about New York have 

 gone down the bay for them, from childhood to old age. The 

 American Field and Stream, devoted to the elevation of sport, 

 has just concluded a remarkable tournament in which it offered 

 valuable cups and prizes for large weakfish taken on special 

 tackle, the kind that means generous and fair play. In glancing 

 over the Usts, I observe the following records, which show the 

 average size of the weakfish taken by anglers to-day : Owen 

 E. Houghton, Esq., nine pounds four ounces ; Dr. Henry F. 

 Deane, eight and one quarter pounds ; Walter E. Sawyer, eight 

 pounds four ounces. 



The weakfish is known as the Squeteague, an Indian name, 

 the drummer, yeUow-fin, squil, sea-trout, gray trout and other 

 names, from the Bay of Fundy to the coast of Florida, where I 

 have taken it at the mouth of the St. Mary's Eiver. The various 

 species are found all around the Gulf, being chiefly known as 

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