CHAPTER III 



SEA ANGLING 



WE do not propose dealing with this subject from the point of view 

 of the angler, but rather that of the naturalist. The former is 

 actuated principally, if not entirely, by the mere love of sport ; or, 

 it may be, to a great extent by the desire to obtain a supply of fish 

 for food ; and he generally estimates the success of his expeditions 

 not by the number of species captured, but by the total weight of 

 his catch, no regard being paid, as a rule, to the inedible specimens. 

 The naturalist, however, does not desire weight, or sweetness of 

 flesh. He works the greatest possible variety of habitats, with the 

 object of determining the number of species inhabiting the locality 

 and of learning as much as possible of their general form, habits, 

 and adaptations of structure to habits. His success is measured 

 by the number and variety of species caught, and he pays but 

 little attention to superiority of size or weight, or to the estimated 

 market value of his haul. The element of sport may enter more 

 or less largely into the pleasure of his occupation, but the main 

 end in view is to learn as much as possible of all the species 

 obtainable. 



Further, our remarks will not include the subject of the 

 different kinds of fishing usually resorted to by sea anglers, 

 but will be confined almost exclusively to the simple means of 

 catching the common species that frequent the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood of the shore. 



If the reader will follow the general instructions given in 

 Chapter II. on the outdoor work of the marine naturalist, he will 

 undoubtedly make the acquaintance of a considerable variety of 

 interesting species which may be captured in the rock pools, 

 found under stones at low tide, or obtained by means of a small 

 dredge ; but his knowledge of our littoral fishes may be appreciably 



