'4 



MODERN SEA FISHING 



large vessels. If a special chart is published of any place 

 which the sea fisherman proposes to visit, it should certainly 

 be obtained ; for the larger the scale the more complete the 

 information given. To show the distinction between the differ- 

 ent sizes and kinds of charts, the Bristol Channel, the greater 

 portion of the English Channel, and the coast of South Wales 

 are covered by two large general charts. A secondary chart 

 includes the Bristol Channel ; while there is a special chart 

 of Carmarthen Bay, which is a part of the Bristol Channel. 

 There is also what I may term an extra special chart of Burry 

 Inlet, which is within Carmarthen Bay. It is well to get an 

 index of charts from Stanford's, Charing Cross, at the cost of 

 sixpence, which serves to show whether or not special charts are 

 published of the places one wishes to visit. 



It may be useful to add that charts cost from sixpence to 

 five shillings, a half-crown being the most general price. The 

 outlay is not large, and a little study of the chart sometimes 

 puts a stranger almost on an equal footing with the local 

 fisherman. To show oneself the possessor of a little knowledge 

 places a considerable and useful check upon the inventive 

 faculties of the boatman. 



The charts are covered with figures and various letters, each 

 of which has a particular meaning. The figures mostly refer 

 to the depths, but there is no fixed rule as to whether the 

 depths are given in feet or fathoms, a fathom being two yards. 

 At the same time, it may be said that on the large general 

 charts, where the depth to a foot or two is unimportant, they are 

 usually given in fathoms, but on the special charts the depths 

 appear in feet. This point is of course explained on each 

 particular chart. The depths stated are those of the sea at low 

 water during spring tides. In other words, it is the least depth 

 there ever is on that particular part of the coast ; but even this 

 statement requires some qualification, because, should there 



