THE POLLACK OR WHITING-COLE OR COAL. 61 



ground become of a much lighter colour, and improve in quality 

 for the table, so that any of these fish over the weight of 6 or 

 7 Ibs. nearly equal Cod in firmness and flavour. 



My best sport in Pollack-fishing has always been on the 

 SW. coast of England from March to the end of June, after 

 which I have found them less numerous, although you can 

 rarely try without some success. In Guernsey I find it the 

 same. In the deep water of the offing however, there is good 

 fishing for the larger Pollack, all through the summer and 

 autumn, and sometimes even up to Christmas. The Pollack 

 feeds at all depths, but much more above than on the bottom ; 

 in fact, is often seen in large numbers on the surface in pursuit 

 of Britt and small fry. Differing so much in its habits from 

 the real Whiting, very different tackle is required for its capture. 

 No gear is equal to the pipe-lead horse-hair lines for drift line 

 fishing, fully described (p. 69), which are much superior to 

 hemp lines for this fishing, being light, elastic, and, from their 

 stiffness and mode of manufacture combined, rarely become 

 entangled. 



The Pollack is both active and voracious, and as it takes 

 the baited hook well, may almost be considered the staple of 

 amateur sea-fishermen on such parts of the coast as are con- 

 genial to its habits. It approaches the shore very closely, and 

 enters the harbours in considerable numbers, when it may be 

 taken either by fishing from a boat with hook and line, or from 

 the piers or any projecting rock with the angling rod. This 

 fish, as well as Mackerel and Bass, will rise very freely at a fly, 

 which method of taking them has become very general within 

 the last few years, and will therefore be treated of in due course. 

 It takes the fly also under water. 



Drift or Tide-way Fishing. There are two methods of 

 hand-line fishing for Pollack : the one when the boat is fixed 

 in the berth or position chosen by an anchor or stone killick, 

 thence termed ' Drift or Tide-way Fishing ' (because the lines 

 are lightly leaded or without lead, and consequently drift or 

 stray out with the current) ; the other termed ' Whiffing ' or 

 towing, because the boat is kept in motion by either sailing, 

 sculling, pulling, or rowing slowly over and around rocky 



