THE WHITING-POUT. 99 



THE WHITING-POUT. 



(Morrhua lusca.) 



Whiting-Pout, Rock-Whiting, Short- Whiting, Lady-Whiting, 

 Blinds, Bib, and Blains, and the Ponchette of the Channel 

 Islands, the 'universal Pout,' as I have heard it humorously 

 styled, is one of the most common fish on the coasts, both on 

 mixed and rocky ground ; the larger ones afford good sport, 

 and are very fair eating, if cleaned immediately after they are 

 caught, as indeed all fish should be. 



Those taken in harbours are, however, generally small. 

 No. 3 line, p. 48, is the size recommended. 



The best tackle for this fish is that described for Silver- 

 Whiting, viz., the boat-shaped lead (fig. 7, p. 42), or the 

 Kentish Rig (fig. 3, p. 38), which I consider about the best 

 form of chopstick for ground-fishing. Weight of leads i Ib. for 

 the stern-lines, and 2 Ibs. for the forward lines. Any of the gear, 

 with moderate-sized leads, as described and illustrated for Whit- 

 ing, will answer for Pout-fishing but, as it is necessary to make 

 a selection, I have chosen these two as the best, after having 

 given all kinds of gear an impartial trial for some years. Sup- 

 posing two hands in the boat, one line apiece is sufficient in 

 ten fathoms of water and under, and even in deeper water one 

 is ample for beginners, but in from fifteen to thirty fathoms, 

 after having become expert in handling the lines, two may be 

 worked by one as in Whiting-catching. In shallow water the 

 line should be kept in hand and the fish struck sharply when- 

 ever a bite is felt ; in deep water the fish are much bolder and 

 more ravenous, and will generally hook themselves. This 

 applies also to the true or Silver- Whiting. By using two lines 

 you will not be losing time, as immediately you have taken 

 your fish off one line, and fresh baited your hooks if requisite, 

 you have only to throw the lead overboard and attend to the 

 other. In putting your gear overboard, be careful to throw the 

 hooks well away from the lead, which will ensure their going 

 down clear, otherwise they will be very likely to foul. To set 

 your line, act as in Whiting-catching viz., first sound the 



II 2 



