GROUND-FISHING GEAR. 33 



quantity before June. Although they are to be met with in 

 congenial localities all round the coasts of the kingdom, there 

 are considerable intervals either entirely destitute of this fish or 

 only occasionally visited by them. 



Where a large extent of the sea-bottom exists frequented 

 by this fish during the chief part of the year, it has received the 

 name of a 'Whiting Ground,' from time immemorial, amongst 

 fishermen. 



GROUND-FISHING GEAR. 



I have placed the article on ground-fishing gear, to follow 

 that on the Whiting, that being the most important fish taken 

 at the bottom. In treating of other fish I refer to this article, 

 mentioning such modifications regarding sizes of lines, or 

 weight of leads &c., as I have found necessary. 



The methods of fitting gear for ground-fishing differ much 

 in different localities, much more, in fact, than necessity 

 requires, the truth being simply this that any tackle which will 

 work clear, and place the bait fairly within reach of the fish, 

 will be sure to catch them, the form of the gear being bound, 

 as far as success is concerned, by no arbitrary rules ; but to 

 fulfil its requirements, whatever be its form, the tackle must be 

 the best of its kind, or it will prove a failure. In such deep 

 water as that to which I have just referred at the end of the 

 previous article, heavy sinkers are of course required, and even 

 then it is impossible to keep the baited hooks near the bottom 

 during the strength of the stream of tide at the springs, which 

 is necessary, for although the fish sometimes are found at a less 

 depth, yet this is quite an exception to the general rule, and 

 the baits should therefore be kept just clear of the ground. 

 Off jutting points and headlands heavy gear is also necessary, 

 even in a moderate depth of water ; but in bays and off 

 parts of the coast, where depths and streams of tide are not 

 beyond the average, much lighter sinkers may be used, pro- 

 vided they will keep the ground. The most common error is 

 to use a stout line where a fine one would be just as effectual ; 

 this by necessity involves a heavy sinker, because the stout 

 line holds so much tide that bottom cannot be kept with a 



