564 THE FLOUNDER AND THE COD-FISH. 



bv the bare feet as the fishes find themselves pressed into the sand, 

 whither they have fled for refuge, and by a little dexterous manage- 

 ment they may be captured by inserting the fingers under the fi^ot and 

 seizing them firmly across the body. 



The color of the Plaice is light brown, variegated with a number of 

 bright red spots upon the body and the dorsal and anal fins. When 

 young the Plaice has often a dark spot in the centre of each red mark. 

 The Flounder, Mayock Fleuk, or Butt is quite as common as the 

 plaice, and is found in salt, brackish, or fresh water, sometimes living in 

 the sea, sometimes inhabiting the mouths of rivers, and sometimes pass- 

 ing up the stream for many miles. 



In former days the Flounder has been known to ascend the Thames 

 as high as Hampton Court, and has there been observed actively chas- 

 ing the minnows and driving them into shallow water. I have often 

 taken small Flounders in the Thames just above Erith. 



The well-known Cod-fish is a native of many seas, and in some local- 

 ities is found in countless legions. 



This most useful fish is captured in vast numbers at certain seasons 

 of the year, and is always taken with the hook and line. The lines are 



of two descriptions — namely, the long 

 lines, to which a great number of short 

 lines are attached, and the simple hand- 

 lines, which are held by the fishermen. 

 The long lines sometimes run to an 

 extraordinary length, and shorter lines, 

 technically called snoods, are afiixed to 

 them at definite distances. 

 V^^^"^ — To the end of each snood is attached 



The Cod i^cuius morrhua), ^ ^^'^^^ ^««^' ^^^' ^^ the sharp teeth^ 



of the fish might sever a single line, the 

 portion of the snood which is near the hook is composed of a number 

 of separate threads fastened loosely together, so as to permit the teeth 

 to pass between the strands. At each end of the long line is fastened 

 a float or buoy, and when the hooks have been baited with sand launce, 

 limpets, whelks, and similar substances, the line is ready for action. 



The boat, in which the line is ready coiled, makes for the fishing- 

 place, lowers a grapnel or small anchor, to which is attached the buoy 

 at one end of the line, and the vessel then sails oflT, paying out the line 

 as it proceeds, and always " shooting " the line across the tide, so as to 

 prevent the hooks from being washed against each other or twisted- 

 round the line, which is usually shot in the interval between the ebb 

 and flow of the tide, and hauled in at the end of about six hours. 



As soon as the long line has been fairly shot, and both ends firmly 

 affixed to the grapnels, the fishermen improve the next six hours by 



