CHAPTER VIII. 



Spearing Flat-fish Have Flat-fish the power of changing 

 colour at will ? Spearing ditto off Ryde Nest of Stickle- 

 back Deceptive appearance offish in water Instances 

 of Jack of Trout. 



rjlHERE is worse sport than spearing Flat-fish, 

 "fluking," as it is called in the South of 

 England, which in sandy estuaries (the favourite 

 resorts of these fish) may often be practised with 

 considerable success. A four or five-pronged 

 spear is the best for the purpose. The prongs 

 should be about three inches apart, and barbed 

 on one side, and the cross-piece, to which they 

 are affixed, attached to a light tough pole just 

 long enough to admit of easy use in the water you 

 are fishing. The simplest and best mode of 

 working this is, when practicable, to allow your 

 boat to drift down with the tide, " broadside on," 

 while you spear away at random, or, when the 

 water is sufficiently clear and shallow to admit of 

 your doing so, reserve your fire until you see a 



