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THE TOM-COD. 
The Tom~Cod or Frost-Fish . — This is a small species of 
the cod, that runs up the rivers in the vicinity of the ocean, 
and is found both in this country and many parts of Europe. 
Although not much of an angle fish, he affords, with the floun- 
der, a pan mess for the angler in the vicinity of Boston and 
New-York, in the pleasant days of April and November, 
when the basse fishing season is over. 
Smith says — “ The tom-cod may be recognized by three 
dorsal fins, two anal, three abdominal, two pectoral. The 
abdominal are small and slender, being before the pectoral, 
as it respects the head *, under the tip of the under lip is one 
short, stump-liko cirrus. The caudal fin is broad, and rounded 
at the extremity. Teeth fine, both in the throat and jaws ; 
white, 6mall and plump tongue ; the lateral lino bearing up- 
wards. Its color varies at different seasons of the year, from 
a rich orange to a light greenish yellow, shaded by a dark 
brown on the back, and gradually becoming light or yellow 
between the vent and the gills. It varies in length, from six 
to fifteen inches, and weighs from a quarter to nearly two 
pounds, depending, of course, on the age, sex and season. 
In the north of Europe — admitting this to be the fish, which 
at present cannot be doubted — they have been occasionally 
known to exceed eight pounds. The spawning season ap- 
pears to bo iu February ; in this climate, about the first of 
May, they begin to take the hook.” 
They are usually taken by the basse and tautog angler, 
with the ordinary tackle, with the exception of the hook, 
which should be a No. 9 black-fish, or No. 6 Kirby. When 
pursuing this sport exclusively, a small flax line about fifty 
feet in length, attached to a stiff rod, or iu boat fishing, a me- 
dium sized hand black-fish line, with small hooks attached 
to flax or gut snoll, will answer every purpose. 
