16 THE MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND FISHES OF ESSEX. 



them, to the eastern parts of the North Sea, where 

 they are occupied with trawling and dredging for 

 oysters on the so-called " skilling grounds." 



A form of trawling pursued on the Essex coast, 

 and by no means common elsewhere, is the trawling 

 for eels on the shores near the mouth of the rivers, 

 and on the mud-banks of the coast just outside the 

 rivers. Sometimes this is a very paying business ; and, 

 from the naturalist's or ichthyologist's point of view, 

 there can be no more edifying sight than to be a 

 spectator of the turning out of the haul, with leisure to 

 examine the mass of mud, weeds, and living freight 

 brought up by the trawl. 



Stow-boat fishing for Sprats* is carried on in this 

 district to a greater extent than anywhere on the East 

 Coast, and a good Sprat season is of as great import- 

 ance to the shore population as a good harvest inland 

 is to the country generally. It means abundance and 

 comfort to the fishermen, their wives, and families, 

 instead of poverty and want if the season be bad. 

 Enormous quantities of Sprats are captured in a good 

 season, and sent away to the populous districts for 

 food. Much larger quantities are disposed of to the 

 neighbouring farmers for manure. 



* The term " Stow-boating," or " Stow-netting," simply means that the " Stow- 

 net" is being used. See Yarrell's British Fishes (vol. ii., p. 123) and Day's Fishes 

 of Great Britain and Ireland (vol. i , p. xcix.), where an illustration of a stow-net 

 is given. 



