DECEMBER 183 



scarcity. Of the lugworms (Arencola piscatorium) 

 there seem to be two varieties, one of which, distin- 

 guished by the thin tail portion being yellow, is 

 esteemed much the better bait for cod than the other 

 form. Other good baits for cod are the hermit crab or 

 crab whelk, and better still the soft shell, peely, or 

 shedder crab, which is merely the shore green-crab 

 when changing its shell. 



Now we come to the question of tackle, to me the 

 most important portion of the whole matter, as upon 

 it depends entirely whether sea-rod fishing shall be 

 merely skull-dragging with a pole or a sport. Firstly, 

 then, as to the rod, which, in my humble opinion, should 

 be of very different lengths, according as to whether you 

 are fishing from pier or boat. For the former from 

 9Jft. to 10ft. seems to me most suitable, while I cannot 

 put up with a boat rod of over 8ft. I have before stated 

 that a tendency exists to make sea rods too stiff. It is to 

 be remarked that I have said "too stiff" and not "too 

 stout," because I am anxious to emphasize the fact that 

 stiffness is the objectionable quality. A certain amount 

 of give-and-take must exist in every rod if light tackle is 

 to be used, and, to my mind, light tackle is the only 

 thing that lifts sea angling into the region of sport. To 

 those who deny to it such a title I say, and say unhesi- 

 tatingly," Try playing a November Deal cod, say, of IGlbs. 

 weight, on line the thickness of snooding with a 2oz. 

 lead and a salmon-gut ledger, and if you do not find the 

 chief spice of sport, namely, uncertainty as to the 

 ultimate result, present to a sufficient extent, I shall be 

 much astonished." The slow, heavy, lifeless drag of 

 the fish at the end of a few fathoms of window cord, 

 with 21bs. or 31bs of lead appended, is exchanged for 

 heavy plunges and circlings, which make the rod bend 

 and the fine line sing. One winds him in, and again 

 perforce must give him line, till at length, after a stout 

 resistance, he is brought alongside, the boatman sticks 

 the "iff" or gaff, into him, and lifts him neatly 

 into the boat. 



My ideal rod has the butt and tops of lancewood, each 



