SEA FISHING. 435 



gear, which as a rule are unsuited to inland 

 waters. Probably therefore it will be most convenient 

 to briefly glance at this branch of the subject first, 

 before entering upoa the question of fresh water 

 angling. 



As is found to be the case with respect to all great 

 waters, the exercise of the fisherman's craft in the 

 open sea is a matter which requires a good deal of 

 local experience, before a man can hope for successful 

 results; for we are met with the same kind of diffi- 

 culty which a stranger encounters when shooting in 

 great forests namely, the extent is so enormous, and 

 the supplies of food for the various forms of animal 

 life so abundant, that in both cases the human atom 

 is swallowed up in the surrounding immensity, and 

 his little efforts brought to naught. 



Passing, however, to the more immediate consider- 

 ation of our subject, from the foregoing among other 

 circumstances we can at once realize the necessity, 

 already alluded to, for the sea fisherman to be posses- 

 sed of local knowledge concerning the waters in which 

 he purposes to carry on his occupation. His chances 

 of success will evidently greatly depend upon his 

 being acquainted with the nature of the bottom. If 

 it is what is known as " foul ground, " of course fishing, 

 except at the surface, would very often be out of the 

 question. It is therefore above all things necessary 

 to be acquainted with the position of the "banks" 

 where fishing can be carried on, or else to obtain the 

 information from local sources. Indians or other na- 

 tives are however sometimes very unwilling to impart 

 information on these matters to strangers; but by 

 watching how and where they go to fish, by means 



