AND HOW TO CATCH THEM. 39 



The Atherine, or Sand Smelt, 



FAM., Mugilidce, 



Better known as the smelt, with which fish it is 

 generally confounded, although totally distinct from 

 it, and rarely ever found where the true smelt is 

 met with, the former being mainly confined to the 

 southern coast of England, from the Hampshire coast, 

 along the whole coast line of Dorset, Devon, and 

 Cornwall. It is held in high esteem by epicures, and 

 considered an excellent fish for invalids. They, like 

 the preceding fish, the grey mullet, are extremely 

 partial to creeks and estuaries where the tide ebbs 

 and flows, and great numbers are often taken by rod 

 fishing from piers, quays, and rocks during the summer 

 months, late in the evening being generally the best 

 time ; and should any watercourse or stream discharge 

 itself into the sea in any creek or bay, there they may 

 be sought for with pretty much certainty of success. 

 When on the feed, which they generally are on the 

 coming of the young flood tide, the bait is taken 

 greedily, and very often four or five are landed at a 

 time. Use your upper three joints of rod with the 

 short butt described under " Eods ; " a seven-foot trace 

 of gut with five or six hooks, 'No. 8 or 9 Kirby, fastened 

 on five-inch pieces of stiff stout gut or hog's bristles 

 (gut is best), looped on the trace one foot apart, press 

 a split duck-shot on the trace at each looping, and 

 a very light sinker (about a quarter of an ounce) on 



