364 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



of the primaeval forest. Behind the cottage was a grove of 

 almost impermeable shrubs, and in front a green lawn sloping 

 to the sea, planted with peach, orange, plum, and loquat 

 trees, and surrounded by Norfolk Island pines. 



I had hired a boat, about the size of a Thames wherry, 

 both for the purpose of fishing in. the harbour and passing 

 backwards and forwards to the city. 



The harbour, for many miles in extent, at certain seasons 

 abounds with fish of various descriptions, most of which, 

 for the Sydney market, are caught with a line ; and having 

 formed an acquaintance with one of the most celebrated 

 amongst the fishermen, I often accompanied him on his 

 excursions, having provided myself with tackle for every 

 emergency, from the capture of the lordly king-fish to the 

 little yellow-tail. We generally started from the North 

 Shore on the evening preceding the day we intended to 

 devote to sport, in order to be on our ground for the early 

 morning fishing, and used our oars or sails, as opportunity 

 served, for about five miles down the harbour, as far as 

 Watson's Bay, near the heads of Port Jackson. Here, near 

 the shores, we caught yellow-tails, and other small fish, 

 which were to serve as bait .on the morrow for their 

 larger brethren, and slept at a small inn on the coast. On 

 the first break of day we steered for the rocky coast to the 

 westward of the heads, and anchored our boat in about ten 

 fathoms, as much under the lee of the rocks as the distance 

 would admit of. 



This was our ground for king-fish, jew-fish, and snappers, 

 all of which, from five pounds weight up to a hundred, were 

 occasionally caught, particularly the former, which is a very 

 large and well-flavoured fish. The latter is of the kind most 

 commonly met with, and, although rather soft and insipid, 

 is still by no means bad eating. Having caught what we 

 considered a sufficiency of the above sorts, after the loss of 



