Morning journal and courier., 1885-11-30
ALONG THE SHORE.
A Chapter on Long Clans, Flatfish,
 SnaPpeFs and Tom Gods.

A Chapter on Long Clans, Flatfisll, ],
 SnappeFR and Tom Gods.
 A writer in yesterdays New York Sun di- lates considerably, and in an interesting manner, regarding striped bass, Little Neck clans, etc. He then, as one having had pal atable experience on the subject, pronounces long clans, when prepared as they are pre- pared "on the shores of eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island," as fit for ''feast of the gods" After describing at length the said process of preparing the clans he proceeds:
 The nautical almanac above suggested would, say about August 20, predict thus: Now look for the snappers. Thousands of fishermen from Port Chester to Stonington have been looking for the snappers during The season for the past two years, without uccess, but sometimes they run in in enor- lous schools. They are the young of blue ish and average less than half pound each, put they are unequalled as 8 pan fish. Scouts are out early in August, and the business men all along the shore wait as eagerly for the word, 'fThe snappers are running, J as the Scotch fisherman does for the herring signal When word does come, down go the yard stick, the shovel and the molasses jug. and if one was in a
  to say that he could see the whole shore frinped with Iaen 6t turn of tide. Someti mes the catches nre enormous and if a fisherman is content with pulling in fish as fast es they jerk the hook then there fG content in store for him when the snappers come. But the snappers are IFS whimsical as the summer boarders and as suddenly determine that the season is over and it is time to go home.
 Later the nautical almanac would say, stFlatish abound" They do. They are to be found in the muddy bottoms, curious perversion of anatomy, with their mouth where an ear ought to be and lobster-like eyes where & decent fish like a trout would have smooth forehead There are people who regard the meat of 8 fatfsh very sweet eating, but the capture of them is apt to make muscular man feel ashamsd of himself. for there can be nothing that can make a strong man feel more foolish than, in response to vigorous bite, to pull quiver- ing little half-ounee fish, shaped like puny pancake, from the water. Iet nasq do 1t all along the shore and call it relaxation.
 The tomcod or frostfsh comes along about this time, too, and in great numbers. He is @ handsome fellow, an honest bitter, and turns well in the frying pan. There is g twitch at the end of your line, and you need be in no hurry. The fish has come to stay. He has swallowed the hook, and if you don't care he will lie on the bottom and try to di .uest it. These cool fall days bring out the amateur Gshermen along the shore by scores, and, as the luck is uniformly good and the fish fry well, there ought to be a general brain stimulation along the Connecticut shore pretty soon, for it is safe to sey that thou sands of these delicacies are seter every morning. Jigging for tomcod b murder, though good many seem to like 1t. The nautical almanac would set the time fol that few weeks later. It consists in fasten ing hooks to a stick, thrustipg the weapon kI hI,zk r1a iflspaling him upon the hook. He is so stu pid that he seems not to mind it and his com panions from whose side he is thus abruptly taken appear to be unmindful of the out. fishermen for the New York markets, but the amateurs, if they engage in jigging, never confess it.
 The fishermen along shore, ttae amateurs have large temptations to angry Vociferstlor through fish called beRalls, cunning, adep little fellows. The begall will clean on hook with expertness and always escape i'm