INTRO I) UCTOR Y 9 



value. Certainly in drawing general conclusions the educated, 

 practical, amateur sea fisherman is less likely to go astray than 

 the uneducated professional fisherman and the unpractical 

 scientist. Talking of conclusions, I have endeavoured to explain 

 in Chapter VIII. how trawling in territorial waters is not only 

 inimical to the sport of the sea angler, but also most injurious to 

 certain fisheries and to the local professional fishermen who 

 depend upon them for a subsistence. 



Ought I to offer an apology to sportsmen for including in 

 this volume the chapter on the Ocean Fishing Rod? The 

 tackle used is anything but delicate twisted wire is a con- 

 stituentand the bait is attached to a hook large enough to 

 hang up a leg of mutton. Even into ocean fishing the rod has 

 been of late years introduced, for it is necessary to boom out 

 the line to keep the bait clear of the debris which is constantly 

 being thrown overboard. Moreover, when a vessel is going at 

 a high rate of speed, and a large fish seizes the bait attached to 

 an unyielding line which is firmly fixed to the rail, as often as 

 not there is a break. But the ocean fishing rod a little thing 

 of forty-five feet or so takes the first shock, the line is often 

 saved from disaster, and the giant mackerel of eastern seas are 

 successfully gaffed and hauled on board. Whether it be con- 

 sidered sport or not, this method of fishing yields considerable 

 amusement ; and serves not only to relieve the monotony of a 

 long sea voyage, but provides more or less excellent fresh fish 

 for the table. 



The chapter on Baits is one of the most important in the 

 book, and I earnestly commend it to the attention of the tiro, 

 together with the remarks on 'Where to go.' Those who know 

 but little of sea fishing appear to have a general idea that the 

 whole thing begins and ends in hiring a boat, rowing out straight 

 to sea for a mile or so, coming to an anchor, and letting down 

 to the bottom hooks baited with pieces of any refuse fish which 



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