AND HOW TO CATCH THEM. 47 



The Gurnard. 



FAM., Triglce. 



Several varieties of this fish are taken on the coasts 

 of both England and Ireland, being in the best season 

 during the autumn and winter months. Great quan- 

 tities are consumed in many of our large cities, the 

 fish being sweet-tasted and wholesome, although some- 

 what dry. The great bulk are taken with the trawl net, 

 although at times considerable numbers are caught 

 on the bolters laid down for other fish ; and in some 

 localities good sport may at times be had by using the 

 chop-stick arrangement described under that head; 

 hooks, No. 3 or 4 Portsmouth pattern, gimp or round 

 plait snooding. Pish pretty near the ground with 

 crab, whelks, and pieces of sand launce, or other bright- 

 coloured fish, as bait : gurnards are great consumers 

 of small crabs, and other crustaceous animals, their 

 hard armour-plated cheeks and heads well adapting 

 them for the pursuit of this kind of food. 



Striped Bed or Surmullet. 

 FAM., PerddcB. 



The surmullet has from the very earliest ages been 

 esteemed a great delicacy, and fabulous prices appear to 

 have been paid for specimens of unusual size. Martial 

 relates that one of six pounds realised 481. 9 one still 

 larger 64Z., and 2401. were paid for three of very un- 



