62 MODERN SEA FISHING 



with large quantities of coalfish, the saithe of Scotland. In 

 their immature state they are known locally as billet, and 

 sometimes afford excellent sport to the fly fisher. They are 

 found round Flamborough Head, which may be fished from the 

 watering-place of Bridlington Quay. But the fishing quarters 

 which I should prefer most in that neighbourhood are at 

 Filey. 



In the summer months the chief fishing at this quiet little 

 Yorkshire town is for gurnards and flat fish in the sandy bay. 

 To the northward of the town the great reef of rocks, known 

 as Filey Brigg, stretches out to a considerable distance into 

 the German Ocean, and on the north side of it shoals of billet 

 approach during spring tides. During fair weather they take 

 the fly greedily. This is a very uncertain place, however, and 

 many a blank day must be expected from it. About September 

 there is a run of good-sized codling, which are caught princi- 

 pally at what the local fishermen call the Backside o' Brigg the 

 back being the south side. 



Since I was at Filey, I believe a pier has been built, from 

 which flat fish and gurnard should afford very fair sport. It is 

 difficult to get baits at Filey, especially for the codling, which 

 like nothing so well as large mussels brought from Hull, but 

 just fancy it ! made in Germany. Off the end of the Brigg 

 there are supposed to be certain large pollack. I never suc- 

 ceeded in catching any myself, nor have I seen anyone more 

 successful, though doubtless an occasional capture is made. 

 Certainly these fish are as scarce as billet are plentiful. 



Scarborough, like Filey, is a first-rate place for sea fishing, 

 particularly for cod, in the autumn. Some capital flat fish are 

 caught from the piers and quays, and grey gurnard swarm into 

 the bay in summer. Quantities of billet or coalfish are caught 

 from the shore or pierheads, and there is fairly good mackerel 

 fishing, the usual method being to anchor the boat and fish 



