312 AMERICAN FISHES. 



THE WEAK-FISH 



The Weak-Fish is a very abundant species in the vicinity of New 

 ^Tork, and is angled for with much success in almost all parts of tha 

 inner bay. The name is said to be derived from the weak mouth of 

 the fish, which is so soft that it very frequently is torn by the hook; 

 and so allows the fish to escape. It pulls fairly upon the hook, and 

 when struck of a considerable size, gives considerable play to the 

 angler before he can be secured. 



Many persons fish for this species, and the others which haunt the 

 same grounds, with the drop-line, but this is a poor and unexciting 

 sport, as compared with the use of the rod and reel. 



The best rod is a moderately stiff general fishing-rod, with a reel, 

 and from one hundred to one hundred and fifty yards of flax or hemp 

 line ; a No. 1 Kirby hook will probably be found, on the whole, the 

 most successful ; and the most killing baits are shrimp, shedder-crabs, 

 or clams. ' The Weak-Fish occasionally runs up to eight or nine lbs. 

 weight, but the general average does not probably exceed two. When 

 quite fresh out of the water, the Squeteague is a very tolerable fish 

 not a little resembling the Trout in flavor, but it very soon becomes 

 soft and flaccid. It is by no means so game or so good a fish, when 

 taken, as the Striped Bass or the King-Fish, yet it is not without many 

 votaries who pursue it with ardor. 



Immediately around the Battery, and even from the Castle Garden 

 bridge, good sport is frequently had with this fish, as also on the flats 

 off Communipaw, in Buttermilk Channel, off the Owl's-Head, as well 

 as at Bergen Point, Elizabethtown Point, and many other places, both 

 in the Kills, and in Newark Bay. It is said that the afternoon tides 

 are the most favorable for taking the Squeteague, until a short time 

 before sun-set, but that so soon as the peculiar drumming or croaking 

 sound, which is ascribed to this fish, is heard, it is useless- to fish 

 longer, as he then ceases to bite. 



