fish 
7. In joiner;/, to strengthen, as a piece of wood, 
by fastening another piece above or below it, 
and sometimes both. 8. In rail., to splice, as 
rails, with a fish-joint Fished beam, in >/<), a 
l<m<; beam composed of two shorter beams joined end to 
end and fished that is, secured by pieces of wood cover- 
ing the joints on opposite sides and bolted to both beams. 
To fish out. (a) To exhaust of fish by fishing ; over- 
flsh: as, waters barren because fished out. (b) To obtain 
by careful search or study or by artifice ; elicit by pains 
or stratagem : as, to fish out a meaning from an obscure 
sentence, a secret from a person, or an admission from an 
adverse witness. 
You shall see, T h&\e fished out a cunning piece of plot 
now. B. Jonson, Poetaster, iv. 2. 
(c) To pull up or out from or as from some deep place, 
as if by fishing : as, the boy fished out a top from the 
depths of his pocket. To fish the anchor. See anchor^ . 
fish 2 (fish), n. [< F. fiche, a peg, pin, dibble, a 
peg used in marking at cribbage, etc., a fish, < 
ficher, drive in, pin up, fix: see fitch 3 and fichu.'} 
A counter used in various games. 
fishable (fish'a-bl), . [< fishl, v., + -able.] 
Capable of being fished ; fit for being fished in ; 
lawful to be fished in. 
There was only a small piece of fishable water in En- 
glebourn. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, xlvii. 
fish-back (fish'bak), n. Naut., & small rope 
fastened to the hook of the fish-block, and used 
to facilitate hooking the anchor. 
fish-backed (fish'bakt), a. Shaped like a fish's 
back; swelling upward : as, a fish-backed rail. 
fish-bait (fish'bat), n. Bait used for fish or in 
fishing. Fish-baits are either natural or artificial ; the 
former are either live or dead baits ; the latter include ar- 
tificial flies, spoons, etc., and are sometimes called lures, 
bait being then restricted to natural baits. 
fish-ball (fish'bal), . Same as fish-cake, 1. 
The waiter roars it through the hall : 
We don't give bread with one fish-ball. 
The Lime Fish-ball. 
fish-bar (fish'bar), . In mcch., the splice-bar, 
as of a fish-joint, etc. : a bar used to connect 
two pieces secured end to end. 
fish-basket (fish'bas'ket), n. 1. A creel used 
by anglers to carry fish. Such creels are of 
various sizes and shapes, made to fit the body 
easily when carried. 2. A creel for catching 
fish ; a fish-pot or an eel-pot. See eel-jtut. 
fish-beam (fish'bem), n. In mech., a beam 
which bellies out, usually on the under side. 
fish-bed (fish/bed), . In geol., a deposit con- 
taining the fossil remains of fishes in predomi- 
nant quantity among those of other marine ani- 
mals. Such beds are also known as bone-beds. 
fish-bellied (fish'bel'id), a. Shaped like a fish's 
belly; swelling downward: as, a fish-bellied 
rail. 
fishberry (fish'ber"i), n. ; pi. fisliberries (-iz). 
The fruit of Anmnirta pcmiculata (Cocculus IH- 
dicus), from its use in capturing fish. When made 
into a paste with Hour it is readily eaten by fishes, and pro- 
duces a speedy but temporary stupefying effect, during 
which the fishes float upon the surf ace of the water and are 
easily taken. See Cocculus. Also called fisher's berry. 
fish-bolt (fish/bolt), . A bolt which secures a 
fish-plate. 
fishbone-tree (fish'bon-tre), n. The Panax 
crassifolium, a small araliaceous tree of New 
Zealand, the leaves of which are singularly 
toothed. 
fish-book (fish'buk), n. A memorandum-book 
in which is entered each man's catch of fish 
when several fishermen are catching on shares. 
fish-boom (fish'bom), n. Naut., a boom secured 
in men-of-war by a gooseneck on the forward 
side of the foremast, by the aid of which the 
anchor is fished. 
fish-breeder (fish 'bre'der), n. One who propa- 
gates fish artificially ; a pisciculturist. 
fish-breeding (fish'bre"dmg), w. The act, art, 
or industry of propagating fish by artificial 
means ; fish-culture ; pisciculture. 
fish-cake (fish'kak), n. 1. In cookery, a ball of 
shredded or chopped fish (especially salt cod- 
fish) and mashed potatoes, fried. Also fish-ball. 
2. The refuse of fishes, from which the oil or 
glue has been expressed, taken from the presses 
in large circular cakes shaped like a cheese. 
fish-can (fish'kan), . 1. A large can of heavy 
tin or galvanized iron employed by fish-cul- 
turists in the transportation of live fish. 2. 
A can used to contain cooked or preserved fish. 
fish-car (fish'kiir), n. 1. A box in which fish 
which have been caught are kept alive, de- 
signed to be towed in the water behind a boat. 
2. A railroad-car especially constructed and 
fitted up for the transportation of fish for com- 
mercial purposes or in the operations of fish- 
culture. 
2236 
fish-carver (fish'kar"ver), n. An implement, 
usually of silver, resembling rat her a large flat 
spoon or a modified trowel than a knife, used 
for cutting and serving fish at table. Also 
called fish-slice, fish-knife, fish-tnnrcl. 
fish-chowder (nsh'chou"der), n. A chowder 
made of fish. The fish most esteemed for the 
purpose are the cod, sea-bass, and blackfish. 
fish-chum (fish'churn), H. 1. Fish ground into 
fine particles and mixed with water to serve 
the purpose of tole-bait ; chum. 2. Same as 
fish-j>oiace. 
fish-coop (fish'kop), H. A box about three feet 
square used in fishing through ice. There is a 
hole in its bottom, which is placed over a similar hole in 
the ice. The fisherman crawls into the box, and, it being 
quite dark inside, can see to the bottom of the water, 
into which he lets down a decoy or lure by a string. 
When fish are attracted by the lure, he spears them. This 
device is used on lakes in western New York. 
fish-creel (fish'krel), n. A wicker basket used 
by anglers in carrying fish ; a fish-basket. 
fish-crow (fish'kro), n. See crow 2 . 
fish-cultural (fish'kul'tur-al), a. [< fish-culture 
+ -oi.] Pertaining to or interested in fish- 
culture; piscicultural. [Rare.] 
The finest private fish-cultural establishment in the 
world. Encyc. Brit., XIX. 129. 
fish-culture (fish'kul'tur), n. The artificial 
breeding of fish ; pisciculture. 
fish-CUlturist (fish'kul"tur-ist), n. ^fish-cul- 
ture + -int.] A fish-breeder; a pisciculturist. 
The first-honor prize, the gift of the Emperor of Ger- 
many, was awarded to Professor Baird ... as a personal 
tribute to one who, in the words of the President of the 
Deutscher Fischerei Verein, is regarded in Europe as the 
first fish-culturuit ill the world. 
Smithsonian Report, 1880, p. 149. 
fish-davit (fish'dav'it), n. Naut., a spar with 
a roller or sheave at its end, used for fishing 
the anchor. 
fish-day (fish'da), n. [< ME. fisshedau, fysshe- 
day; <.fish + day."] A day on which fish is eaten 
customarily, or in conformity with ecclesiastical 
regulations forbidding the eating of nesh-meat. 
Sewes [courses] on finite dayes, 
Babees Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 171. 
fish-driver (fisli'dri'ver), . One of a fisher- 
men's gang who keeps close to a school of 
fishes and directs or guides the gang in setting 
a seine. 
fish-duck (fish'duk), , See duelft. 
fisher (fish'6r), . [< ME. fishere, fischere, fissli- 
er, etc., < AS. fiscere = OS. fiskari = OFries. 
fisher = D. visscher = MLG. vischer = OHG. 
fiscdri, MHO. riseher, G. fischer = Icel. fiskari 
= Sw. fiskare = Dan. fisker, a fisher (from the 
verb); = L. piscarius, a., of fish, n. a fishmon- 
ger (i/iscator, a fisher), < jiiscis, a fish.] 1. One 
whose occupation or sport is the catching of 
fish ; a fisherman. 
Thu wenest ibeo a beggere, 
And ihc am a fixsere, 
Wei feor icome bi este 
For flssen at thi feste. 
King Horn (E. E. T. S.), 1. 1134. 
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon 
and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea : for 
they were fishers. Mark i. 16. 
The patient fisher takes his silent stand, 
Intent, his angle trembling in his hand. 
Pope, Windsor Forest, 1. 137. 
2. The pekan, wejack, black-cat, or Pennant's 
marten, Mustela pennanti of Erxleben (1777), 
M. canadensis of Schreber (1778), the largest 
North American carnivorous quadruped of the 
Fisher, or Pennant's Marten (Musttla pennanti). 
family Mustelidte and subfamily Mustelinai with 
the exception of the wolverene : so called from 
its habit of catching fish. It is a kind of marten or 
sable, peculiar to the northern parts of North America, 
and quite distinct from any other species. The length 
fish-fag 
is 2 or 3 feet, generally about 30 inches, from the nose to 
the root of the tail, which measures from 14 to 20 inches 
more. The color i.s black or blackish, generally ilurkcr 
below than alxtvc, lightening by mixture of gray or Inouii 
on the upper fore parts and head, and there is no light 
throat-patch. The ears are low, wide, and semicircular, 
ami the physiognomy is characteristic in cumparii.ini ith 
other martens. The pelt is valuable. Also called black- 
fox. 
3. ///. In oniitli., specifically, the I'isca tores, Toti- 
pcumati.or Steganopodes, K. lilylli.- Bottom-fish- 
er, "lie who uses a sinker and fishes at the bottom : said by 
anglers : opposed to rtit-li^t" r i>r >'"/;/i/iv-y/*A<>/'. Fisher's 
berry. Same mfishberry. Fisher's seal. Same asfislirr- 
inan's riny (which see, under Jih>'n>itiii). Free fisher. 
See free. 
fisher-boat (fish'er-bot), n. [= D. risschers- 
boot = G. fischerboot = Dan. fixkerbaad = Sw. 
fiskarb&t."] A boat used by a fisherman or in 
fishing. 
Hauing taken certaine Scotish and other fi she rboats, they 
brought the men on boord their own ships. 
llalrtuyt's Voyages, I. 604. 
The gallies divided into sundry squadrons, and tricked 
all in their gallantly ; rowjng at their sternes three or 
four little vessels no bigger then fisher-boat*. 
Sandys, Travailes, p. 40. 
fisherfolk (fish'er-fok), n. Those whose occu- 
pation is catching fish. 
Descriptive of the peasantry and fittherfolk. 
The Academy, Jan. 28, 1888, p. 60. 
fisherman (nsh'er-man),.; \>\. fishermen (-mm). 
1. One whose occupation or sport is the catch- 
ing of fish; one who catches fish, whether for 
profit or for pleasure ; a man skilled in catch- 
ing fish. 
And [Jesus] saw two ships standing by the lake : but the 
finhermen were gone out of them. Luke v. 2. 
The fishe rtnen, that walk upon the beach, 
Appear like mice. Shak., Lear, iv. 6. 
2. Avesselemployedinfishing. 3. The fishing- 
duck or fish-duck; a merganser Fisherman's 
bend. See beiM, 3. Fisherman's luck, getting wet 
and hungry, and catching no fish; poor luck. [Colloq.] 
Fisherman's ring (aunulug pincatoris), a signet-ring 
bearing the device of St. Peter fishing. It has been worn 
by the popes since the thirteenth century, and is used for 
stamping the papal briefs. Also called fisher-ring and 
fisher's seal. Fisherman's Sunday, Friday: so called 
in parts of Pennsylvania when fishing on that day was pro- 
hibited. Fisherman's weight, the weight of a fish as 
guessed at, but not determined by weighing. See rieer- 
might. [Cant.] Free fisherman. See/rw. 
fishery (fish'er-i), n. ; pi. fisheries (-iz). [= D. 
risscherij = MLG. rischerie = G.fischerei = Dan. 
Sw. fiskeri; as fish 1 + -ery.] 1. The business 
of catching fish ; the fishing industry. 
It is therefore important that the organization of a state 
fisheries department should ... be primarily under the 
control of a scientific authority. Science, VII. 432. 
2. In law, a light of fishing in certain waters. 
A common fishery is the right of fishing in the sea and 
public rivers open to all the public. Encyc. Brit., IX. 268. 
3. A place where fish are regularly caught, or 
other products of the sea or rivers are taken 
from the water by fishing, diving, dredging, 
etc.: as, a salinon-jfeAfr^ ; a pearl-fishery; the 
fisheries of the coast. 
In one of the large fisheries at Kiviere Ouelle, 3000 eels, 
averaging two pounds, have been taken in one tide. 
Harper's Mag., LXXVII. 825. 
Bay-fishery, the act or industry of fishing in a bay; 
specifically, the mackerel-fishery of the gulf of St. Law- 
rence. Coast-fishery, fishery conducted within three 
marine miles from the shore-line, or inside a three-mile 
limit. When the fishery is pursued from the shore, but 
with the use of open boats, as in the taking of mackerel, 
herring, and especially eaplin, smelt, and lance, it is a 
strand-fishery. Hind. Commissioner of Fish and 
Fisheries. See commissioner. Common of fishery, 
the right of fishing "in another man's water": like roi- 
tnon of pasture, etc. Encyc. Brit., IX. 268. Fishery so- 
ciety, a society organized for the protection, promotion, 
and encouragement of the industry of fishing. Fishery 
treaties, treaties concerning fisheries; specifically, the 
treaties between the United States and Great Britain de- 
fining the privileges of fishermen who are citizens of the 
United States in the waters of British North America. By 
the treaty of 1783 with Great Britain extensive privileges 
were granted to American fishermen in the waters of Brit- 
ish North America. These privileges were materially les- 
sened by the treaty of 1818, which gave rise to the vexed 
questions whether the "three-mile limit "from the shore 
should be run parallel to the shore or from headland to 
headland, and relating to the rights of American ships in 
Canadian ports. On the fishery question the relations be- 
tween the two countries continued to be unsatisfactory, in 
spite of various attempts at solution, as in the treaty of 
Washington in 1871 and the proposed treaty of 1888. Free 
fishery, an exclusive right of fishing in public water, de- 
rived from royal grant. Encyc. Brit., IX. 268. Several 
fishery, the exclusive right of fishery of an individual, 
derived through or on account of ownership of the soil. 
Encyc. Brit., IX. 288. Strand-fishery. See coast-fish- 
< United States Commission of Fish and Fish- 
eries. See ci'littiiixxionl. 
fish-fag (fish'fag). . A woman who sells fish ; 
a fishwife. [Eng.] 
Who deemed himself of much too high a rank 
With vulgar fish-fags to be forced to chat. 
Wolcot(P. Piinliir). 
