440 KEPOKT ON TRAWLING AND OTIIEK INVESTIGATIONS 



of the bays the oiiLside trawling-grounds were more restricted, but since 

 that time the fishermen have been driven by force of circumstances to 

 trawl on grounds they had never before frequented. 



The various parts of the trawling area are fairly well differentiated 

 from one another by the bottom-soil, and are known to the fishermen 

 by distinctive names. Along the northern portion, in fifteen to twenty- 

 two fathoms, lies the " Spion Kop " ground, so called by the Brixham 

 men from some fancied resemblance of the promontories along the 

 coast to the famous battlefield in Natal. The soil is composed of 

 medium to fine sand, with coarse patches here and there. Pectens 

 (queens) and other shell-fish are abundant, and the ground is liable 

 to become very foul by sudden incursions of star-fishes, sea-urchins, 

 and drift-weed. How these can suddenly appear and as quickly dis- 

 appear within a few days is one of the unsolved mysteries of the region. 



The Brixham men did not trawl on this Spion Kop ground till 

 three years ago, and visit it only during the spring. At that season 

 the plaice are returning to the inshore waters, and this is one of the 

 main lines of the migration. The plaice are not large, and last year 

 (1902) they were said to be smaller on the average than in previous 

 years. Soles are also obtained there, likewise whiting, dabs, and 

 gurnards ; but the mainstay of the fishing is the plaice. 



To the south-east of the Spion Kop ground lies the " Biscuit 

 Dust " ground, twelve miles off Berry Head and running up to within 

 six miles of Portland. It is so called from the bright golden yellow 

 colour of the coarse sand and shells which compose its soil. Starting 

 at about twenty-seven fathoms, it extends out to thirty fathoms, where 

 it merges into the " Scruff." The fish obtained here are plaice at the 

 spawning time in early spring, soles, rays, and sometimes in the 

 autumn considerable quantities of red mullet. 



The Scruff is not a regular trawling-ground, its coarse soil and 

 " hummocky " nature being too dangerous, especially for the compara- 

 tively light materials of which the small trawlers' nets are made. The 

 large smacks with their stronger nets of manilla might tow over it, 

 and at the eastern corner the liners often procure large catches of ling 

 and rays. At the western end of the Scruff", however, lies a favourite 

 trawling-ground, especially in late spring, when fine catches of whiting 

 are often obtained. 



Following along the line of the Scruff", towards Start Point, we 

 come to the " Corner," which in late spring and summer is the rendez- 

 vous of all the small trawlers. It lies across the thirty-fathom line, six 

 to ten miles off Dartmoutli Fairway with Prawle Point clear of Start 

 Point. Fish are abundant there during the season, and include soles, 

 lemon-soles, a few turbot, plaice, dabs, whiting, gurnards, and rays ; in 



