CHAPTER XII. 



December 



SEA FISHING AT DEAL. NOVEMBER. 



WHEN we have, within eighty-four miles of London, 

 a fishing ground, where can be taken by rod and 

 line congers of nearly 301bs., cod of 201bs., 

 pollack of 131bs., whiting of 2lbs. and plaice of 

 31bs.; it must be allowed that the stay-at-homes are well 

 catered for. 



Deal may be said to be the metropolis of marine 

 angling, and from early spring right on through the 

 winter months the sea rod is strongly in evidence. A 

 quiet stroll on the pier in the month of August will show 

 dozens of persons intent upon watching their rods on 

 the lower platform, while the view of the pier end from a 

 boat resembles nothing so much as a marine fretful 

 porcupine, the quills being represented by the forest of 

 projecting rods ; at the same time, the boats out with 

 rod fishers are seldom fewer than a dozen if the weather 

 is at all favourable. The regular sport for which the 

 place is renowned rarely starts before October, when the 

 advent of the sprats into inshore waters brings quantities 

 of large cod and whiting within easy reach of the beach. 

 At no time during the year can Deal be said to be devoid 

 of facilities for fishing ; but in the early summer months 

 the rodsman is practically dependent on the small 

 codling, hatched probably in the spring of the previous 

 year, and not exceeding more than lb. to fib. in weight ; 

 the whiting pouts, whose habitat is pretty well localised 

 to the rock patches south and north of the pier ; and 

 small whiting of about 7in. or Sin. in length. As the 



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