FISHING AT HOME A^fD ABROAD 



tackle baited with sprat, and the catch includes, at one season or another, 

 soles up to two pounds and small sea trout, as well as whiting, herring, and 

 even sprats. A few grey mullet are also taken, the bait being, as at home, 

 paste or ragworm. At Boulogne I have from time to time seen more anglers 

 than fish on the harbour pier, but there is fair bass fishing in boats oflE 

 Wimereux, either railing with indiarubber baits or baiting with live prawn. 



On the beautiful rocky coast of Brittany, where the visitor will have 

 matters much more his own way, there are bass, grey mullet, and conger. 

 The first-named may be caught from the rocks at St Malo, particularly 

 on the Paramfi side, at the end of the wall that encircles that old port, 

 and the best method is to use float tackle with live prawns for bait. From 

 the quays, close to the berths of the South Western Company's steamers, 

 I have seen local anglers catching fair -sized grey mullet with ragworm 

 for bait. Further down the coast, at Port Manech (where there is a com- 

 fortable annexe of the Pont Aven Hotel), large grey mullet enter the little 

 coves in the cliffs, but, like the big bass, they are difficult to catch. I found, 

 however, that they could be induced to remain within reach by generously 

 baiting up a cove with bread and boiled potatoes. The worst problem is 

 that of landing a fish when hooked, as it is often necessary, particularly 

 as the tide rises quickly, to fish from a height, and landing nets are useless. 

 The only plan is to play the fish till it is tired out, and then lift it through 

 the air. With tender-mouthed fishes like the mullet, however, this is a 

 risky proceeding. Some fair boat fishing may be had a little beyond Gon- 

 carneau when the sea is in over the rocks, and large whiting pout (known 

 locally as tacots) are the most plentiful fish on those grounds. 



Further down the Biscay coast we come to Biarritz and St Jean de 

 Luz. There is good whiting fishing off Biarritz in the early part of the year. 

 I made quite exceptional catches there in March, and the charges made 

 by the Basque fishermen are merely nominal when compared with those 

 at home. Fine gut tackle pays in that clear water, and the bait is fresh 

 sardine. St Jean de Luz is an excellent spot for both bass and grey mullet 

 all through the summer. The bass are caught on float tackle, baiting with 

 live prawn; the grey mullet are also taken on float tackle, but the correct 

 bait is a stale sardine, and plenty of groundbait is used, the material 

 being pounded sardines. All down the Biscay coast, by the way, tunny of 

 manageable size are caught by the line fishermen, the bait being a shredded 

 husk of maize, which suggests a gigantic artificial fly, but I am not aware 

 that any amateur has ever succeeded in this locality. 

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