14 THE PLYMOUTH MACKEREL FISHERY OF 1889-90. 



by it the size of the shoal is estimated^ as well as the depth at which 

 the fish are swimming. The net is regulated accordingly^ and the 

 shoal encircled. 



The famous Lochfyne herring are also for the most part caught 

 by this process. 



Whifl&ng or trolling for mackerel with a spinning bait has also 

 been practised for many years. Each boat works six lines. Each 

 line is attached to a sinker, from which depend first a fathom of 

 snood, then a fathom or a fathom and a half of gimp, a swivel, a 

 foot or so of gut, and the swivel bait or spinner. When fish are 

 plentiful, the bare spinner will take fish well. At other times it is 

 necessary to have a fish bait. 



The bait most preferred, is called " britt " or " mackerel bait '^ 

 (young sprat, whitebait). When this cannot be procured a substi- 

 tute is manufactured by cutting about an inch out of the under or 

 white surface of a mackerel's tail. 



One remarkable circumstance of last season's " whiffing " was 

 that boats engaged, in this method of fishing south of the Eddystone 

 had to be sailed, in a southerly direction. In June boats sailing 

 for ten to fifteen miles south of the Eddystone would pick up from 

 200 — 400 in one course. They then got '' outside " of the fish, and 

 had to return to their starting-point to repeat the process. A^Tiile 

 sailing back, although the lines were kept out all the while, only 

 a very few fish could be taken. 



This method of fishing can only be employed during daylight. 



