SPEARING FLAT FISH. 161 



hooks, alternating with the half-devoured bodies of haddocks, 

 flounders, saithe, and other shore fish. 



I may just name another mode of obtaining sport, which 

 is by spearing flat fish, such as flounders, dab, plaice, etc. No 

 rule can be laid down on this method of 

 fishing. It has been carried on successfully 

 by means of a common pitchfork, but some 

 gentlemen go the length of having fine 

 spears made for the purpose, very long and 

 with very sharp prongs ; others, again, use 

 a three -pronged farm-yard "graip," which has been known 

 to do as much real work as more elaborate utensils specially 

 contrived for the purpose. The simplest directions I can give 

 to those who try this style of fishing are just to spear all 

 the fish they can see, but the general plan is to stab in the 

 dark with the kind of instrument delineated above. At the 

 mouths of most of the large English rivers there is usually 

 abundance of all the minor kinds of flat fish. 



Lobsters and crabs can be taken at certain rocky places of 

 the coast ; mussels can be picked from the rocks, and cockles 

 can be dug for in the sand. Shrimps can also be taken, and 

 various other wonders of the sea and its shores may be picked 

 up. After a storm a great number of curious fishes and shells 



may be gathered, and some of 

 these are very valuable as speci- 

 mens of natural history. The 

 apparatus for capturing lobsters 

 and crabs is like a cage, and is 

 generally made of wicker work, 

 with an aperture at the top or 



the side for the animal to enter by ; it can be baited with any 

 sort of garbage that is at hand. Having been so baited, the 

 lobster-pot is sunk into the water, and left for a season, 

 till, tempted by the mess within, the game enters and is 



M 



