COD, HADDOCKS, WHITING, BREAM, ETC 449 



much resembles that of crab. The fresher bream are eaten the 

 better. 



There is very little difficulty in catching these fish, provided 

 they are sought after at the right place and at the right time. 

 For their haunts we necessarily have to depend upon the local 

 knowledge of professional fishermen. But deep water, over 

 or near rocks and seaweed, is a likely place in which to find 

 them. If, however, the water is discoloured, the fish come on to 

 the shallows, and may sometimes be caught in as little as three 

 fathoms. I have heard of some being taken at a less depth in 

 Carmarthen Bay after rough weather, but these were compara- 

 tively small, not exceeding four pounds in weight. In exceed- 

 ingly deep water fifteen to twenty-five fathoms where there 

 is semi-darkness owing to the depth, bream will feed in the 

 daytime, but not so well as at night. I have heard of daylight 

 catches of fish of about four to five pounds in twelve fathoms 

 of water. 



Bream favour many baits, among their favourites being sand- 

 eels, squid, pilchard, herring, mussels, ragworms, and the soft 

 part of limpets, a small portion of the hard part being retained 

 to help keep the bait in position on the hook. Indeed, they do 

 not seem particular what they eat. Mr. Matthias Dunn has 

 related how, in 1874, a grain vessel came to grief off the Cornish 

 coast. Soon afterwards he caught some bream near the spot, 

 and found them full of wheat. The fish were remarkable for 

 their plumpness and good condition. 



Strong ordinary paternoster tackle, such as that shown on 

 p. 245, is very useful for sea bream ; but perhaps somewhat 

 better is a tackle similar to that shown on p. 386, with eight feet 

 of snooding beyond the lead, and two hooks. The weight of 

 lead must of course depend upon the strength of the tide. 

 The depth at which bream are found is most uncertain. Some- 

 times they are close to the bottom, at others in midwater, and 



3 M 



