56 MODERN SEA FISHING 



This used to be such a general rule that I had begun to regard 

 Brighton and other places on that coast as most undesirable 

 fishing resorts. But during the last few years the fishing 

 grounds have been more thoroughly ascertained, and friends of 

 my own have had some really fine fishing there in the autumn 

 and early winter months for whiting, large plaice, congers, cod 

 and bream ; but these fish are not to be taken close to the 

 beach. Now and again, after rough weather, when the water is 

 thick, large bass are caught from the groynes and piers ; the 

 east side of the chain pier is the best. The general fishing 

 from the piers is of no great account. 



Among the fish which are caught off Brighton are bream, 

 whiting pout, silver whiting, plaice, wrasse, conger, gurnards, 

 and mackerel. Occasionally sharks are found. During 

 September 1891 five were brought in varying from five to 

 seven feet in length. In 1893 a large shoal of common 

 dolphins of considerable size passed within sight of the town. 

 Now and again I hear of bass being taken from the break- 

 waters, particularly the one at Rottingdean. Among the rocks 

 at Rottingdean is a little prawning and shrimping, and 

 occasionally a lobster is caught. 



Of Eastbourne little need be said except with regard to bass, 

 which are sometimes abundant off Beachy Head in September ; 

 fishing from the pier is bad. At Bexhill there is some very fair 

 cod and whiting fishing during the autumn and early winter. 



At Hastings the fishing is certainly indifferent, except by 

 going some distance seaward ; but here, again, small whiting 

 pout may be caught from the pier. Thence, also, an occasional 

 conger or bass may be landed. Near the stone groin at the 

 easternmost end of the fishermen's settlement are some rocks 

 sometimes frequented by bass. 



In years gone by Dover Admiralty Pier used to afford first- 

 rate sea fishing (codling, mullet, bass, whiting, &c.), but the 



