SURFACE-FEEDING SEA FISH __ 369 



lining with live sand-eels, whiffing with dead ones on natural 

 or artificial spinning baits, and fly fishing or whiffing with large 

 sea flies. 



There is no absolute rule in the matter of pollack baits, 

 the fish having what I may term local appetites. But the two 

 which stand first and foremost are sand-eelsalive for prefer- 

 ence and a very young sea or freshwater eel. Almost, if not 

 quite, as good are any small fish of elongated shape, such as the 

 gunnel, variously known as butterfish and swordick of Orkney 

 and the nine eyes of Cornwall. For moderate-sized pollack there 

 are few more deadly baits than the large ragworm, which, on 

 that account, is termed on some parts of our coast the pollack 

 worm. Of artificial baits there are few better than a red 

 rubber eel, sole-skin baits, and the red phantom. Often more 

 successful than the foregoing are the feather baits mentioned 

 in Chapter IV. They are sometimes found more effective in 

 the daytime than the rubber eels. 



The best pollacking is enjoyed during the early autumn, 

 but a quantity of small fish are caught during the summer. 

 On the coast of Devonshire thousands of small pollack are 

 taken on whiffing lines in the early spring. A large number 

 of baits (see Belgian Grub, p. 139) are used, and often several 

 small fish are hauled in at once. About pierheads and such- 

 like places there frequently lurk a few pollack, and those who 

 would catch them must rise early, before the water has been 

 disturbed by boats, steamers, and paternosters, and let a single 

 hook baited with a live pollack worm hooked through the head 

 the line being weighted with a half-ounce pipe lead down 

 among the fish, which, if not feeding very bravely, will often be 

 tempted, particularly if a slight sink and draw motion is given 

 to the bait. A few pollack are caught from Deal Pier in this 

 manner during the early spring and summer. 



When pilchards or any other fish or marine creatures on 



3 B 



