28 THE SEA SHORE 



described, while the subject of sea angling is of such general interest 

 that we propose to devote a short chapter exclusively to it. 



It may seem hardly necessary to discourse on the nature of the 

 attire most suitable for sea- side work, since the majority will readily 

 form their own opinions on this matter, but perhaps a few words of 

 advice to the inexperienced may not be altogether out of place. 

 First, then, make it a rule to wear no clothing of any value. The 

 work will lead the enthusiast over slippery weeds, on treacherous 

 boulders, over rocks covered with sharp acorn shells, and among 

 slimy and muddy stones, and many a slip may occur in the course of 

 a day's work. Large pockets specially but simply made by sewing 

 square pieces of lining on the inside of an old jacket are a great 

 convenience ; a cap rather than a brimmed hat should be worn un- 

 less the latter be considered essential for protection from a burning 

 summer's sun ; and a pair of old shoes, preferably with rubber soles, 

 are just the thing for both rough and slippery rocks, as well as for 

 wading through shallow waters. Other details we can safely leave 

 to the fancy of the reader himself. 



Now comes the most important question ' Where shall we go ? ' 

 Fortunately we are favoured with a great extent of coast-line con- 

 sidering the area of our country, but the character of the coast is 

 so diversified, both with regard to its scenery and its life, that the 

 naturalist will do well to carefully select his locality according to 

 the objects he desires to study. The east coast of England is not 

 generally noted either for variety or abundance of marine life, and 

 the same is true both of the south-east and a large portion of the 

 south coast. In some places the beach is formed of an unbroken 

 stretch of sand on which one may walk for miles without seeing 

 any sign of life, with the exception of an occasional empty shell 

 and a few fragments of dried sea- weed washed in by the breakers 

 during a recent storm ; while at the same time the cliffs, if such 

 exist at all, are not very generous in their production of the fauna 

 and flora that are characteristic of the shore. But even on the 

 coasts referred to there are, here and there, isolated spots where the 

 uplands jut into the sea, giving rise to bold promontories, at the foot 

 of which are the fallen masses of rock that afford protection to a 

 moderate variety of truly marine life, while the rough bottoms 

 beyond yield numerous interesting forms that may be secured by 

 means of the dredge or suitable traps. Such spots are to be found 

 where the chalk hills abut on the sea, as at Flamborough and Beachy 

 Head, but it is in the neighbourhood of "Weymouth that the English 



