258 FISHES I HAVE KNOWN 



Sweeting's in Cheapside, measures 29 inches long, 

 and 12 inches wide. 



At Tenby I went out with two professionals 

 three times a week, under a mutually profitable 

 arrangement. For the consideration of a certain 

 sum of money, I was to take all the fish I re- 

 quired, while they were to provide tackle and bait, 

 and give me the benefit of their experience. It 

 was also stipulated that I should contribute the pro- 

 vender, including the contents of a certain stone jar ! 



We used to commence operations by laying 

 down a "trot," some four miles away from land. 

 Now, a trot is a long, stout line, with snoods and 

 hooks attached at intervals of about two yards, 

 baited with cuttle-fish, sand-eels or whelks (" whalks" 

 in the vernacular), and weighted with stones and 

 big corks attached by thin cords to each end 

 to mark its position. Very long cords are often 

 used, with a thousand hooks ; but ours was of 

 modest proportions, say, a quarter of a mile in 

 length. 



After arranging it, which took some time, we 

 left it for the night, carefully taking the bearings, 

 so that we might find it in the morning, which we 

 did, when almost every hook had a fish on it, or a 

 big crab. First there was a large conger, which 

 had to be promptly knocked on the head ; then a 



