470 MODERN SEA FISHING 



are compelled to use stout hempen lines and snooding of fine 

 white wire, and even these prove insufficient against the strong 

 sharp teeth of the tasargelt. The fish which visit the Mogador 

 coast come by instinct to prey upon the small silver) 7 fish of 

 the sardine and anchovy type, and any artificial bait should be 

 in imitation of them. Sole-skin, minnows, or any of the dainty 

 phantom productions, would be useless. A simple bit of tin, 

 slightly curved like the common baby-spinner used at home, is 

 enough for sport when the fish are feeding. 



The azlimzah is another of the great ocean fish taken in 

 these parts, and it advances towards the shore in battalions 

 during July and August. There is always some drawback, 

 however, and the sport is often hindered by obstreperous north- 

 easterly winds, which make a rough sea and dirty water, fatal 

 to successful angling from boats. The baits are the same as 

 for tasargelt a piece of octopus, small sardines, or a bit of 

 silver side, locally called ' aghulim,' cut from a freshly caught 

 fish. The azlimzah run from 30 to 40 Ibs., and naturally give 

 magnificent sport. In 1885 a young visitor to Mogador killed 

 an azlimzah of 54 Ibs. in weight. It was 54^ inches long and 

 30 inches in girth, and on the same day ' Sarcelle,' who had 

 taken the young gentleman out, himself caught one of 50 Ibs. 



The aourah comes into the water in shoals at the same 

 time. These are beautiful fish, with gold and silvery hues, and 

 blue grey markings on the side. They will follow the boat 

 close to the rudder, and dash in the wake of it at the spinner, 

 which is generally of the smaller kind, and used with gut traces 

 and light rods. The aourah averages 4 Ibs., and as it is a 

 surface feeder the bait must be kept moving pretty swiftly. The 

 arrivals of these gamesome fish during the summer months 

 amount to an annual carnival for the inhabitants, who forsake 

 the duties of home for the remunerative pastime. The fish sell 

 well in the market, except when a glut is caused by the angling 



