112 AN ANGLER'S YEAR 



Certainly it was proved beyond the faintest shadow of a 

 doubt that the idea that conger only feed at night is 

 quite erroneous; for during the last season the writer 

 has records, from one place alone, of thirty-five large 

 congers by sea-anglers' boats in the daytime. 



It is pleasing to notice that sea bream in fair quantity 

 are now returning to Brighton and vicinity, as at the 

 beginning of July, 1902, the local fishermen were getting 

 from fifty to sixty daily, up to 51b. apiece in weight. 

 The capture of these fish is a pastime which, par 

 excellence, ought to be pursued by sea anglers. The 

 sea bream is a plucky biter and fights hard when 

 hooked, giving excellent sport to the rods- man, and 

 providing a dish not to be despised when cooked and 

 served immediately. 



Having tried the day fishing it is as well to have a 

 turn at night for large conger, and the following is a 

 short account of a night's work amongst the congers at 

 Loo Gate. 



The author and two friends, having had several days' 

 unsuccessful fishing owing to the brightness of the 

 water, decided to make a night of it off Brighton. So, 

 getting our tackle together, we made all ready and went 

 afloat from Shoreham Harbour at 7 p.m. The night 

 looked blustery, and the sun shone "too fierce," as the 

 boatman said, while low down on the horizon a dark 

 bank of clouds was to be seen to the westward, right in 

 the wind's eye. However, we decided to chance our 

 luck, knowing that if the worst came to pass we had 

 Brighton beach within four miles. As the mackerel 

 had been pretty well in evidence, we put out railing 

 tackle, consisting of 3|oz. lead. 8ft. salmon gut traces 

 with two swivels, and a baby spinner and triangle, as 

 bait. 



The breeze was fresh and the boat travelled well, 

 while the shoals near the surface were evidently still 

 few in number and far between. However, on our way 

 out we took eleven fish one on each line thrice, and 

 one on the starboard and centre line the last time. 

 Although one line was kept constantly down, we never 



