543 
December, 1921 
FOREST AND STREAM 
is a fresh-water species is positively an 
error although made by an eminent au- 
thority in the years past. It is nowhere 
more abundant than around the ocean 
piers during the months of September 
and October and is to be found far up 
the arms of the sea where it doubtless 
finds abundance of food as well as shelter 
from its enemies, the most persistent of 
which is the weakfish. 
Its spawning place has never been 
definitely found, although it is thought 
to be around the latitude of the St. Johns 
River in Florida and to occur during 
the early spring months, as no fish have 
been taken in the middle states contain- 
ing spawn. It is also known as “goody” 
and Cape May “goody” and is a most 
delicious pan fish. When a school is lo- 
cated great sport may be had with them 
if the angler uses the lightest of tackle, 
which, to paraphrase, should be ot 
“spider web” consistency. The bait 
must be well down to the bottom as they 
are a bottom-feeding fish, never rising 
to the surface as do many other kinds. 
T HE tautog or, as it is familiarly 
termed, blackfish has long been an 
object of interest to anglers and is taken 
in the greatest abundance from Cape Cod 
southward to the Delaware capes where 
it appears to end its range. It is rarely 
or never found except in the immediate 
vicinity of rocky ledges and around old 
wrecks where it passes its existence feed- 
ing on the barnacles which accumulate 
on such obstructions. Its habits are 
identical whether found in the open sea 
or in the quieter waters of river or bay. 
In the sea specimens of from seven to 
ten pounds are not unusual, while in the 
inland water the fish are smaller. It 
would seem that upon reaching the 
weight of two pounds they pass out to 
sea where they find the shelter they de- 
sire among the rocky ledges of the coast. 
Of their spawning habits but little is 
known other than that the very tiniest 
fry is found floating among the eel grass 
in bays and rivers during the summer 
months. The larger specimens are taken 
abundantly on the heaviest tackle at 
times by the fishermen who go out on 
the fishing-boats running from the cities. 
It is not this class of sport, however, 
which appeals to the average angler as 
this fish appears to better advantage on 
inland waters. It can be looked for 
around old wrecks or any place where 
shelter can be had, especially in deep 
water under bridges when the waters 
cool down in the early autumn months, 
and it is welcome to the persistent man 
who will go “a fishing” whenever fish 
are to be had. It is a determined fighter 
while being taken from the water and re- 
sists to the last. It is best caught where the 
current makes swirling eddies and does 
not run strong. Clams and shedder 
crabs may be used, but the best possible 
bait is the fiddler crab. Crack the shell 
just enough to permit the hook to be set, 
as the teeth of the blackfish are formid- 
able and will soon crush any ordinary 
shell or barnacle, and allow just sufficient 
lead to keep the bait at the bottom. With 
very light tackle the sport to be had is 
most gratifying, for although it is not a 
real game fish, the determined resistance 
which it will make is very satisfying. 
I have many times been much amused 
at the surprise which comes to the one 
who is not familiar with the tricks of 
this fish. When all was supposed to be 
ready for landing the fish in the boat 
and it was at the surface of the water, it 
would give a sudden dive and while the 
reel went humming the fish would be 
down in its haunts again and all would 
have to be gone over again in the way 
of working it to the surface. It is really 
surprising what determined resistance 
the tautog of say two pounds in weight 
can make, particularly on a light rod. 
THE SPORT OF SHARK FISHING 
THE UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE SIZE OF THE GAME 
ADDS A POTENT ATTRACTION TO THE QUEST 
By W. G. FREEDLEY, Jr. 
A prize worth catching 
O F late years salt - water 
anglers have been giving 
more and more attention 
to shark fishing, and as 
these fish furnish a very high 
; class of sport it is well that it 
I should be so. Among users of 
S ordinary tarpon or surf-fishing 
I tackle the uncertainty as to the 
| size of the game proves a very 
potent attraction in this sport, 
ij whether carried on from a boat 
or through the surf ; while those 
who prefer the half-inch manila 
: rope and heavy cast-iron hook 
can get equally great thrills and 
some wildly exciting boat rides 
by using a light skiff in connec- 
tion with their style of tackle. It 
is with the hope of increasing the 
interest in the taking of these great fish 
that I am submitting the following per- 
j sonal notes and anecdotes : 
Little Egg Harbor inlet, on the New 
Jersey coast, is a great place for sharks, 
and many a one have I killed there in 
past days. My outfit consisted of a twelve- 
foot sneak - boat, a seven - foot tarpon 
rod, three hundred yards of 18-thread 
line and a six-foot triple leader of piano 
wire; with this rig I found that it was 
possible to handle successfully the ma- 
jority of sharks up to nine feet in length. 
My method was to tie up to an anchored 
buoy; then, on getting fast to a fish, I 
would cast loose and let tide and fish 
control my craft. I always preferred 
to do my fishing on the last half of the 
ebb tide so that the “slick” from my 
ground-up menhaden would drift out 
towards the open sea ; this seemed to 
secure better results than when I re- 
versed the proceeding. These fish, rough- 
ly speaking, ranged from five to nine 
feet in length, and most of them put up 
splendid battles. 
I frequently beached these sharks, after 
killing them, on the Anchoring Island, 
and often have been much interested in 
opening the brutes and in studying their 
stomach contents. Usually this would 
consist of nothing more than digested 
or partly digested fish, but oc- 
casionally strange things would 
come to light. From the stomach 
of one seven-footer I obtained a 
rough billet of hardwood nearly 
sixteen inches long and two inches 
in diameter; also two rocks about 
the size of golf balls and a four- 
ounce pyramid sinker. The fish 
seemed to be in prime condition, 
in spite of his indigestible diet. 
In another I discovered what 
seemed to be a badly-mashed 
tomato can; this had evidently 
been in him but a short time, as 
the tin was still in quite good 
condition. I also know of one 
twelve-foot hammerhead shark 
killed by a friend of mine on the 
Gulf coast of Florida which con- 
tained a large cast-iron shark hook, with 
four feet of chain and a heavy swivel 
attached. This fish was captured on 
much the same kind of rig that was 
found in him, so he had apparently not 
learned much from his experience. 
With sharks running from nine to ten 
feet in length upwards I have had much 
pleasure and excitement in using a couple 
of hundred feet of half-inch manila rope, 
a heavy cast-iron shark hook with chain 
and swivel attached, and a light skiff. 
I run the line through a large ring in the 
bow of the boat, making the end fast to 
a cleat near the stern seat; this enables 
( Continued on page 569) 
