THE SQUETEAGUES. 
119 
slow, Co., N. C. “ When we have extremely cold and cloudy weather, and I 
believe also windy weather for three or four days, the Trout at the mouth of 
New River are benumbed, and on the first sunny day rise to the surface, 
and after a day or two die and sink to the bottom or are washed ashore. 
As soon as they rise, there are generally hundreds of men ready with nets, 
dip nets, gigs, and in some instances, nothing but their hands and boats, 
to pick them up. They are sometimes washed ashore in long heaps, two 
and three feet deep, for a considerable distance. When these ‘ numbs ’ 
occur, it is generally known through this and the adjoining counties, and 
carts and wagons come for the fish by hundreds—sometimes from a dis¬ 
tance of fifty or sixty miles. The New River is a wide and very shallow 
bay for the distance of twenty miles from its mouth. There was a ‘ numb ’ 
in January, 1877, and another in the winter of 1879, about the same time, 
but they do not occur frequently.” 
They prefer sandy and grassy bottoms, and are particularly fond of shal¬ 
low water, four or five feet deep, especially in still waters and eddies. 
Their favorite food is small mullet and other diminutive fish, as well as 
still more largely shrimps and small crustaceans ; while, on the other hand, 
they are eaten voraciously by Weak-fish, blue-fish, drum and porpoises. 
In market fishing, nets are generally employed, though some fish are 
occasionally speared. They are taken in seines, usually having a mesh of 
about one and one-half inches, made of No. 8 cotton twine, about one 
hundred yards long and ten feet deep. When the fish first begin to make 
their appearance the fishermen establish themselves in their boats, just out¬ 
side the surf, and watch along the crest of the breakers. When the fish 
are seen the net is paid out from the stern of the boat, one man leaping 
overboard with a rope attached to one end of the net, while a man in the 
boat pulls rapidly around the school so as to inclose it. The net is then 
drawn carefully to the shore. The average catch of two men for a day 
may be set at about three hundred pounds, although a much greater 
amount than this could be taken if desirable. 
They are used when fresh, and sent up into the small towns in the in¬ 
terior in large numbers. The flesh is of an excellent quality, much supe¬ 
rior to that of the Weak-fish, being firm, white, and flaky, and will keep 
well for three or four days, unless the weather be too warm. It is some¬ 
times salted down for home use by the inhabitants along the coast, and 
much esteemed. Dr. Yarrow estimates that about two hundred barrels 
