31 



THE BAIT RESOURCES OF THE DISTRICT. 



By B. STORROW. 



Travelling along the Northumberland coast from Berwick 

 to the T^aie one is struck with the fact that wherever on this open 

 coast the nature of the rocks and the line of the shore provide any 

 protection for small boats there a fishing station has been estab- 

 lished. There are fourteen of these stations, some being quite 

 small villages, such as Beadnell, Newton and Cress well, whilst 

 others, such as Berwick, Amble and Blyth, are associated with 

 towns, the main population of which is engaged in different 

 industries. 



During the year 1914 the total value of the white fish landed 

 at these fourteen stations was over £10,000, and in 1915 it exceeded 

 £20,000. Fishing is carried on in inshore waters by means of lines 

 chiefly in the winter months, from October to March, and during 

 this period about 80 per cent, of the total white fish is caught. 

 In spring, crab and lobster fishing is commenced, and at various 

 stations salmon fishing is pursued. 



The chief bait for line fishing consists of mussels. Only one 

 of the stations has an adequate supply of mussels for bait within 

 easy reach, and the greater part of the mussels used on the coast 

 is brought by rail from Morecambe Bay and the region of the 

 Wash. Many of the fishermen therefore make a practice of 

 baiting alternate hooks with limpets, and occasionally the whole 

 line has to be thus baited. A worm bait, consisting chiefly of 

 lugworm, Arenicola marina, is used in spring, when mussels are 

 becoming unsuitable for bait, and also during the summer months. 

 Other baits which are occasionally used are anemones obtained 

 from the rocks, chiefly in spring, and looked upon at Newbiggin 

 as most eflective. " Hairy w^orms," under which heading are 

 included Nereis virens, Nephtliys caeca and N. Jiombergii, are con- 

 sidered excellent bait, and are used whenever obtained, but chiefly 

 during the spring. At some of the stations, such as Berwick, 

 Craster and Newbiggin, herrings are purchased from the herring 

 boats by the inshore fishermen from May to August. Shore crabs 



