The sun., 1894-10-30
aAMY BURGALLs PLENTY NOW.
They Are Gamy and Voraeious, and They
Make Excellent Pan Fish.


New York anglers are enjoying in these crisp
autumn days great sport with the burgalls,
otherwise known as "cunners," or saltwater
perch" These fish, which seldom grow TO weigh
over pound and half, and average about a
half pound. are considered great pests by the
blackhsh and sea bass anglers. from the fact
that they are the most numerous, daring. and
successful bait stcalers in the sea. Notwith-
standing their diminutive size these rogues bite
with vim and resist capture with sturdy
persistence that far exceeds those quail
ties in the small sea bass. Best Of all, they
are common 10 all the waters adjacent TO this
city, and good fishing grounds may be reached
within a half hours ride. All the water front
off Staten Island, the Jersey shores, and the
north side of Long Island Sound abound with
burgalls. In our own bay and in the Hudson and
East rivers they swarm and are daily caught in
big strings.
A light tackle is needed for the thorough en-
joymcnt Of the sport. A fairly stiff trout-bait
rod, such as would be used To take the little
snapper" bluefish, Is the proper thing, and the
lightest Of braided linen lines. one-Ounce
sinkers unless the tide be so boisterous
as 10 require more lead are the size
FEiqSb Eaby or ksa sproa1 sape. anu sizes foGr to o. sT I
The sinkeris rigged AT the foot Of the line, and
4S % hgns y & sHs e IS thu bes
Two quarts OF soft CLANS VIII serve Tor fure-
moons sport, and yield, II wind and weather are
favorable, a weighty return In burgalls. The
tough neck and outer layer OF flesh are used. 30
that one clam will bait both hooks. The aim in
batting is not so much To conceal the hooks as 50
To fix the bait that IL cannot be stolen.
The bite Of the burgall Is quick running nib
BILE and IL readily dlstinguishable from that Of
the young bass and black hsh which haunt the
same localities. sharp Jerk Is needed 70 hook
these FISH, for more escape by the barb not being
driven into their TubbeTy little mouths than get
away because Of too violent pull by the angler.
feed in schools, and are All exceedingly greedy
fish. Three or four Others Will often pursue tho
hooked ones % the surface trying TO rob them OF
the dangling bit Of clam.
In from one to three fathOms OF water the
buTgalls are caught, and they feed at all times
OF tide. They bite most savagely, however, At
dead low water and on the very first OF the Hood.
Rough. rocky bottoms, and the edges OF stone
reefs and break kwaters are their fayorte haunts,
particularly where n strong current or an eddy
ger fish, and seldom bite except ON or near the
bottom. For that reason the sinkeT must be
kent touching or Just raised OF the rocks
Where the rOckWeed and sea kale grow densely
on the lodges, TO afford good cover, they
will venture up 10 the very shore, and may be
taken in three or four feet OF water.
In removing them from the hook the angler
must be wary in handling these reyengeful lit
tie sprites. for their strong, high, dorsal nm 10
armed with many and keen etlnKs which often
inhict on rash hand painful Temembrances,
IL will be noticed that among professional
| fishermen along the Jersey and Long Island
shores, while they catch all the other and better
| known fish for market, they always. when
| angling for their own lardeT, go out Tor Gun,
ners." They are plenty, gamy, tair-siLed, and
| best pan fish caught between Cspe May and
| Nova Scotia.