458 MODERN SEA FISHING 



was brought into the boat. There is another beautiful story 

 told by a Mr. Todhunter. Seeing a monkfish in shallow water 

 near Youghal, he placed the butt of a whip he was carrying 

 near its mouth. The fish grabbed it, held on like a bulldog, 

 and allowed itself to be pulled ashore. 



Among other names which have been given to these 

 monsters are frog-fish, toad-fish, sea-devil, nass-fish, ivide-gab, 

 friar, and briabot. It is surprising that there are not more 

 of them in the sea, for they seem to be most prolific. From a 

 female fish, 4 ft. 6 in. in length, were taken over a million and 

 a half eggs. Devil-fish are fairly common off Cornwall and 

 in the North Sea, and a few are caught every year on most 

 parts of our coasts. I have accounted for one only, of no 

 great size. 



No one is likely to fish specially for a sea-devil, and I 

 know of no special tackle or bait which I can conscientiously 

 recommend. If experience should be our guide, we may with 

 advantage use either a mop-head, the butt of a whip, or the 

 corks of a crab-pot. On the whole, however, I should prefer 

 a herring, pilchard, or mackerel on a large hook fished close to 

 the bottom. Having caught your sea-devil, cut him open and 

 see what he contains. This practice with many sea fish leads 

 to most interesting discoveries. 



The two WEEVERS, the Greater and the Viper Weever, 

 respectively called Trachinus draco and Trachinus vipera, 

 are only mentioned here as fish to be avoided rather than 

 sought after, for they are armed with most dangerous spines 

 on the back, which inflict wounds sometimes necessitating the 

 amputation of a limb. At the same time, to give the sting-fish 

 his due, the greater weever is. good eating, possessing flesh 

 both firm and sweet. The drawings of these fish will, I hope, 

 serve to identify them. It is the small or viper weever which 

 is the more dangerous. The spines at the corners of the gills 



