SURFACE-FEEDING SEA FISH 363 



the end of the cast was a small hook, while at intervals of three 

 feet were two droppers. The arrangement was, in fact, just 

 like a fly cast made up for stream fishing, bare hooks being 

 substituted for flies. But in addition, between the hooks, there 

 were small fragments of cork which kept the arrangement from 

 sinking. The end hook was baited with that slimy green weed 

 which is found in harbours growing on the piles. The two 

 droppers were covered with bread paste. The day was calm, 

 which is the most favourable condition for mullet fishing, and 

 the fish were now and again visible. The tackle was very 

 carefully cast above the fish, and some breadcrumbs were 

 sprinkled over the water. The line was worked very skilfully, 

 and several fish of no great size were caught while I looked on. 



In mullet fishing the element of individual skill comes very 

 much to the fore. The tackle may be right and the bait may 

 be right, but unless the angler can place the bait in a natural 

 manner before the fish, he will have but poor sport. For 

 instance, it is no use making clumsy casts and splashing down 

 corks and baits on the top of the water, nor jerking the rod 

 to get out line, thus making an inanimate piece of paste or 

 macaroni jump about as if it were alive, in the most unnatural 

 way. Except in the case of voracious fish, it is always desirable 

 to make the bait look and act, if I may use the expression, as 

 naturally as possible. 



Mr. Senior in a later chapter describes the most artistic 

 method of mullet fishing carried on at Nice by local anglers 

 who wade in and, with a careful sweep of the rod, cast their 

 lightly buoyed tackle beyond the waves. At San Sebastian 

 somewhat similar gear is used, baited with small squares of 

 salted tunny ; a favourite local ground bait consisting of 

 chopped heads of sardines, potatoes, and clay squeezed up 

 into balls. One of the Mediterranean pastes for mullet fishing 

 is made from fresh roll mixed with pounded sardines or 



