2 MODERN SEA FISHING 



I cannot, of course, claim to be the originator of rod and 

 line fishing in the sea. That has been carried on wherever 

 coasts are steep and rocky, as in the West of England and 

 other places, for many years perhaps from time immemorial. 

 But it was not until a little book of mine, called ' Angling in 

 Salt Water,' was published in the year 1887, that the attention 

 of any considerable number of freshwater anglers was attracted 

 to the possibilities of sport afforded by the sea, and to the 

 advantages of using therein freshwater tackle with certain 

 modifications. As an instance of what skilful anglers now do 

 when they visit the seaside, I may be allowed to quote a short 

 extract from an anglers' paper. 1 It is merely one of the 

 weekly reports sent in by a regular correspondent, who in this 

 case is the second coxswain of the lifeboat at Deal and owner of 

 an unpretentious hostelry where London fishermen of the middle 

 class much resort. It should be understood that the takes 

 mentioned are not ordinary ones, and that fishing for whiting 

 and cod at the place in question is only really good during the 

 period of spring tides in autumn. All the gentlemen referred 

 to in the report would be fishing with rods, and, probably, gut 

 paternoster tackle, with leads varying from a quarter of a 

 pound to perhaps a pound or more ; and it is pleasing to find 

 it for once admitted that the amateur angler has succeeded 

 better thanks to his superior skill and improved gear than 

 the professional fisherman. 



DEAL. Like Caesar, they came, they saw, and they conquered. 

 The members of the British Sea Anglers' Society may fairly lay 

 claim to this motto, for they have come and taken the wind out 

 of our local fishermen. The following particulars will be read with 

 interest. On the gth instant .... 282 Ib. weight offish were brought 

 in, and there were no cases of sea-sickness. Mr. Norman took a 

 whiting, 2 Ib. 3 oz. ; Mr. Vail, one of 2 Ib. 10 oz. Saturday, the 



1 The Fishing Gazette of Nov. 17, 1894. 



