172 
THE WEAK-FISH. 
swimming bladder is convertible to good glue. I have eaten 
os fine blanc-mange from it as from the isinglass of the stur- 
geon. lie is a fish of goodly appearances and is wholesome 
and we]l-tasted, though rather soft: is brought to market in 
great abundance during the summer lhouths. He is taken 
by the line and the seine. He is called weak-fish, as some 
say, because he does not pull very much after he is hooked;* 
or as others allege, because the laboring men who are fed 
upon him are weak by reason of the deficient nourishment 
in that kind of food. Certain peculiar noises under water, of 
a low rambling or drumming kind, are ascribed by the fisher- 
men to the squeteague. Whether the sounds come from 
these fishes or not, it is certain that during their season, they 
may be heard coming from the bottom of the water; and in 
places frequented by weak-fish, and not in other places; and 
when the weak-fish depart, the sounds are no more heard. 
“A beautiful variety of this fish is sometimes seen, with 
the following characters, to wit: 
“ Spotted Squeteague — (Lab. Sq. maculatus).— ' There are 
black, well defined spots among the specks over the back 
and sides, and checkering the caudal and second dorsal fins, 
The pectoral fins are rather small: ventral and anal fins not 
yellow but brownish. The parts thus variegated with spots 
have a pretty appearance.” 
They bite freely at the shrimp and shedder crab, and will 
often take clam bait as readily. In the vicinity of New-York 
they are found in the greatest abundance in the hay off Com- 
munipaw, Oyster Islands, Buckwheat Island, below Eliza- 
bethtown Point, at Buttermilk Channel, the Owl's Head, 
Gowanus Bay, and Manhattanville; and although they no- 
* Tins is a great mistake ; the squeteague, considering the weakness 
or softness of the inner part of his mouth, is a fair pulling fish ; and 
When they are hooked of a good sizo, uro known to givo nearly as much 
sport ae the more favored rock. 
