168 THE BASSE. 



prevented from being washed in by a flat stone of some fifteen pounds 

 weight, being attached to the outer extremity, and the hooks being 

 baited with sand launce, the tide was allowed to flow over the line 

 which was kept tight with the stone towards the land ; and when 

 the water had reached the inner extremity, then a spare line was 

 added ; the latter having no hooks, and being unwound as the 

 tide continued to advance. In this way perhaps a hundred and 

 fifty fathoms or more of spare line was unwound, after which the 

 stone is drawn inwards, which notwithstanding its weight may be 

 easily done whilst it is under water, though you would be unable 

 to stir it one inch when dry on the sand. The end of the stray 

 line being held in the hand tight with the stone, a bite of a basse 

 can easily be felt even at that great distance ; as a basse when he 

 does lay hold of a bait tugs away like a dray horse. In general 

 however I have allowed my Hue to remain down till I have sup- 

 posed two or three of these fish were hooked, as it is frequently 

 difficult, and sometimes impossible, to get out the line again suffi- 

 ciently far to expect any success till the next low water, as this 

 kind of fishing can only be carried on during the flood tide. When 

 you have the fortune to get three or four lusty basse on your line 

 tugging, and plunging, and floundering about as you haul them 

 ashore, you can imagine no sport that is more exciting. 



The chief point to be attended to is to use your best judgement 

 to keep the hooks as much as possible amongst the breakers, as 

 outside them you will rarely prevail upon a basse to bite. The 

 baits being tossed about in the disturbed motion of the foaming 

 waters, not only gives the baits the appearance of being alive, 

 but also to a considerable degree conceals the tackle, which must 

 be strong, otherwise the fish will be sure to break it. I have found 

 strong whipcord the best adapted for the purpose. In fine wea- 

 ther I have seldom been successful in this kind of fishing, except 

 about the twilight of an evening, or after sunset, when most fish 

 are inclined to feed most boldly ; on this account I have often 

 moored my lines on the beach by attaching stones to both ends, 

 allowing the tide to flow over them, and visiting them again as 

 the ebbing tide again leaves them dry on the beach. Nor were 

 basse the only fish I have taken by this means, as I used frequent- 

 ly to catch small turbots, rays of all kinds, flounders and other flat 

 fish, whiting, pollacks, and tamlin cod, and a far greater number of 

 small conger eels than I either sought or desired, as they gave me 



