NOVEMBER 179 



One or two hints as regards this fishing may prove of 

 interest : 



Always if possible get a good man who knows the 

 marks. 



Should you find out any new marks (and the writer 

 has hit upon several), endeavour at once to get the 

 bearings, fixing upon some natural feature rather than 

 an artificial landmark which time may alter. 



A strong endeavour should be made to get accurately 

 upon the exact spot, proper allowance being made for 

 anchoring, &c. If in charge of the boat always put a 

 " nettle " on the anchor, as fouling is apt to occur 

 amongst the debris at the bottom. 



When playing pouting it is as well to give no slack 

 line, as the little chaps have a wonderful facility for 

 getting off after being hooked. If running short of bait, 

 it should be borne in mind that the merest scrap will 

 take pouting. 



Lastly and not least, a word must be said as to the 

 best method of disposing of the fish. Summer pouting 

 I never touch, but good winter fish are a treat for the 

 gods, if eaten fresh. 



In summer, they are, as most of us know, tainted 

 before they are dead almost. In winter, if cleaned at 

 once, they will keep good in a cool larder for 24 hours 

 or even longer. They will not, however, stand packing, 

 and should on no account be sent as presents to friends. 

 Whiting are very little better, while, of course, cod are 

 all right. 



If grilled or fried, I, and indeed probably most other 

 people, will be found to prefer pouting to whiting, 

 although Deal whiting fresh caught, split, and grilled 

 are allowed by the majority of fish epicures to be a 

 most delicate dish. 



In the course of my narrative, I mentioned that we 

 had caught a 31b. whiting. We had it plain boiled like 

 cod and ate it. It bore about the same relation to cod 

 that boiled lettuce does to cabbage ; that is to say, 

 there was a family likeness, but the substance was 

 softer and the flavour much more delicate. We also 

 tried the horse-mackerel. It was beastly. 



