160 SET-LINE FISHING. [CHAP. iv. 



The fly is dragged on the surface as the boat is rowed along, 

 and the moment the fish is struck it is swung into the boat. 

 The fry of the lythe and saithe may also be fished for from 

 rocks and pier-heads, using the same tackle. A very ingenious 

 plan for securing a number of these little fish is carried on in 

 the Firth of Clyde and elsewhere. A boat similar in shape 

 to a salmon-coble, with a crew of two one to row and one to 

 fish goes out along the shore in the evening, when the sea is 

 perfectly calm or nearly so. The fisher has charge of half-a- 

 dozen rods or more, similar to the one already mentioned. 

 These rods project across the square stern of the boat, and 

 their near ends are inserted into the interstices of a seat of 

 wattled boughs, on which the fisher sits, not steadily, but 

 bumping gently up and down, communicating a trembling 

 motion to the flies. The course of the coble is always 

 close in shore, and, if the fish are taking well, the same 

 ground may be fished over many times during the course of 

 the evening. 



As to set-line-fishing, it can only be practised in places 

 where the tide recedes to a considerable distance. The cord 

 used is of no defined length, and at certain distances along its 

 entire extent are affixed corks to prevent the hooks sinking 

 in the sand or mud. The shore-end is generally anchored to 

 a stone, and the further end fastened to the top of a stout staff 

 firmly fixed in the beach, and generally attached also to a 

 stone to prevent it drifting ashore in the event of being 

 loosened from its socket. From the staff almost to the shore, 

 hooks are tied along the line at distances of a yard. The 

 hooks are baited at low tide, and on the return of next low 

 tide the line is examined. This is neither a satisfactory nor 

 sure method of fishing, as many of the fish wriggle themselves 

 free, and clear the hook of the bait, and many, after being 

 caught, fall a prey to dogfish, etc., so that the disappointed 

 fisher, on examining his line, too often finds a row of baitless 



