PRAWNING 



of the chief victories of that mighty warrior, Ella, King 

 of the South Saxons. Birling Gap is, as its name 

 indicates, a flaw or gap in the huge rampart of cliff 

 stretching from Beachy Head to Brighton, by which 

 the shore is readily attainable. Here is a coastguard 

 station, where our nets are taken care of, and whence 

 we can usually procure our baits. Bait-catching, the 

 troublesome search for elusive crabs, is a somewhat 

 tedious process, and if the prawner has not provided 

 for this necessary portion of the outfit before reaching 

 the fishing-station, he should always allow at least an 

 extra half-hour or more before the time when he starts 

 fishing. 



Our nets are duly baited, the crabs neatly skewered 

 into the bottom of each net ; and, having changed shoes 

 and nether garments — it is always advisable, if possible, 

 to take a change of knickerbockers or flannels with one 

 — we proceed to the rocks. It is rather more than an 

 hour and a half before low tide, and we have, therefore, 

 plenty of time to get to our fishing-stations at the edge 

 of yonder dark brown rocks ; by this plan we have 

 at least an hour and a quarter's fishing before the tide 

 turns and comes in again, from which period we gain 

 another full hour of what usually constitutes the best 

 sport of the day. 



We spread abroad in various batches, and scramble 

 continuously over the rocks till we near the edge of the 

 sea. Here the heat of the hot and dusty land has 

 vanished ; the breeze comes with a delightful coolness 

 from the salt water, and we are speedily refreshed and 

 recruited by the astonishing change of temperature. 

 For the next two hours and a half, until the incoming 

 tide drives us from the best stations, and the likelier 

 prawning holes and gullies are filled, we enjoy sport of 

 a varied but always alluring nature. Some of the party 



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