50 MODERN SEA FISHING 



One great advantage of Plymouth is the shelter obtained in 

 the harbour within the breakwater, but there is a corresponding 

 disadvantage in the large amount of traffic, which does not im- 

 prove sport in shallow waters. It has been said that the break- 

 water has caused mud to collect in the Sound, and that this has 

 had a bad effect on the fishing. 



There are many places at Plymouth from which fishing from 

 the shore can be carried on, and having regard to the fishing in 

 the harbour, whiting, cod, gurnard, hake, &c. boat work outside, 

 and the shore fishing, there are few places which offer so great 

 a variety of sport to the sea angler. At the same time, it is often 

 asserted that the sport is not so good as it used to be. Not 

 long since a letter appeared in one of the weekly papers from 

 a gentleman who had fished for a month at Plymouth for bass 

 and had only caught one fish ; he complained of the steamers 

 and the big gun and torpedo practice. Certainly the bass fish- 

 ing is not nearly so good as it used to be. 



Some prawning and shrimping is done between Mount 

 Batten and Bovisand, and among the rocks round Drake's 

 Island. During the summer months a steamer plies between 

 Plymouth and Looe. There being, as I have said, such excel- 

 lent local guides published, I have not thought it necessary to 

 deal with this fishing station in great detail. 



The next place of any importance after Plymouth is Sal- 

 combe, which offers very good pollack fishing. Most of the 

 pollacking is carried on round Bolt Head and Prawle Point. 

 Sand eels for bait are obtainable. The climate is very mild in 

 winter, the average temperature for many years having been 

 little less than that of Montpellier. Oranges, lemons and cit- 

 rons grow in the open air. The bass fishing was once very 

 good, but of late years has fallen off, and in respect thereof 

 certain amateur netsmen have been blamed. It is still, how- 

 ever, a noted place for pollack, and let us hope the bass will 



