THE 



SEA-FISHERMAN. 



INTRODUCTION. 



AMONGST all the useful arts, there is probably not one of 

 which the knowledge has been so much confined to those who 

 make it their vocation, as Sea-Fishing. Any detailed accurate 

 accounts of the modes of capture of our best known fish such 

 modes of capture as the amateur would wish to avail himself of 

 -were formerly unknown, the difficulty of accumulating facts 

 having always rendered the progress of information slow. The 

 requisite practical knowledge cannot be acquired by a short 

 visit to the sea-side and an occasional day's fishing ; neither 

 must it be thought that the methods of one particular locality 

 will suffice for all others : on the contrary, it is only by a long resi- 

 dence at different points of the coast, combined with the practice 

 of sea-fishing as a pursuit, that the required information can be 

 collected regarding the various methods called into action by 

 the varying circumstances of different localities. There can be 

 little doubt that the greater facilities of transit afforded us by 

 the extension of the railway system inasmuch -as they have 

 vastly increased, and in many cases created a great passenger 

 traffic to the coast have been the means of causing a demand 

 for information on the subject to which this work is devoted. 

 Sea-side visitors must find some occupation pour passer le 

 temps : the monotony of the marine parade becomes weari- 



a 



