1 6 SOUTH-WEST COAST FISHING STATIONS. 



sandy ground. A few miles in the offing Whiting both numerous 

 and large in autumn and early winter, with some Cod &c. ; in 

 fact an increasing improvement going westwards from the Bill 

 of Portland. There is a little Trout-fishing in the River Bride, 

 which river is used to scour the harbour, and small freshwater 

 Eels for Pollack-fishing may be here obtained. 



Lyme. Sea-fishing as off Bridport. Good Pollack-fishing 

 along shore between Lyme and Seaton. 



Seaton. General sea-fishing good. At Axmouth Harbour, 

 at the east end of Seaton Beach, ground-fishing for Bass and 

 rod-fishing from the ruined pier and quay. Trout-fishing in 

 this river, which has still Salmon, Salmon-peel, and Sea-trout. 

 Squid for Bass to be procured from the Mackerel fishermen or 

 Beer trawlers. In the harbour soft Crabs are sometimes obtain- 

 able. 



Beer. A fishing village. Pollack off Beer Head and 

 variety of fishing in the offing. 



Sidmouth. Sea-fishing as before mentioned, but a very 

 wild shore, and shallow at low water, which, when the wind 

 blows from seaward, causes a dangerous surf. The little river 

 Side has Trout, Eels, and Lampreys. 



Budleigh Salterton. Large quantities of Mackerel are 

 sometimes taken in the bay between Sidmouth and Budleigh 

 Salterton in the summer and Whiting in winter. Here I once 

 took in half a day 412 Mackerel with hook and line, and near 

 a thousand each were taken by boats fishing the whole day. 

 Whiting have also been taken more than two feet in length and 

 in large quantities, but of late years the fishing has a great deal 

 deteriorated. Dabs are found on sandy ground in this neigh- 

 bourhood, and at Budleigh Salterton on the rocky ground 

 opposite the mouth of the Otter River, Whiting-Pollack ; and 

 shoals of Bass are seen sporting, but cannot often be taken 

 with the fly here, as in boisterous weather, most favourable 

 for the fish to feed, the sea runs very high on this open coast : 

 at such times, however, I have had good sport with the ground 

 lines, throwing them off the beach in the river's mouth, and 

 sometimes just westward of it ; the fish varying from six to 

 twelve pounds' weight each. Rag- worms for Pollack procurable 



