JULY 111 



twelve minutes this continued, and finally, after a 

 tremendous struggle, a handsome pollack of 7flbs. 

 was hauled up. This, with a few mackerel, taken railing 

 going home, completed the bag, and a very fair bag, 

 too, for the time of the year, one angler taking, besides 

 pouting and small congers, two of lllbs. and 141bs., and 

 a pollack of 7lbs. 



A week or two previously a couple of amateur rod 

 fishers took from the same place a dozen congers and a 

 five-pound pollack one tide, and next day they succeeded 

 in capturing two congers, six sea bream of from 31bs. 

 to S^lbs. each, a dozen pouting from lib. to 21bs. each, 

 and three young blue sharks, or sweet-williams, besides 

 losing a fine turbot of about 81bs. weight, when quite on 

 the surface and close to the boat, owing to the snood 

 snapping. A fair morning's fishing for the silly season, 

 one is inclined to think. 



On the way back the railing tackle was again put 

 over, and half a dozen nice mackerel were taken, and 

 cooked for the two o'clock dinner, which all hands 

 enjoyed with that appetite which alone comes to the 

 angler who has subsisted since the night before on bread 

 and cheese, with a hard-boiled egg. After a snooze on 

 the couch (tell it not in Gath) we take a stroll along 

 towards the lock at Southwick and see the sand-eels 

 brimming close to the gates and asking to be snatched 

 and put on Wilcock's tackle to tempt the bass, whose 

 presence in the harbour is manifested by their 

 occasional capture ; the best taken last season weighed 

 171bs. and fell a victim to soft crab. We certainly 

 would have had a try, but that our train left in the 

 course of an hour. So, after our packing was over 

 and our cup of tea swallowed, we rushed off for London 

 relieved, refreshed, invigorated, and not fishless, 

 although we were foolish enough to go sea-angling in 

 July. 



It has struck the writer that the idea that there are 

 no fish about during the spring months may not be 

 altogether correct, and that the non-capture by the 

 professional fisherman may be due to his coarse tackle. 



