76 FISH. 



bulters, and hand-lines, and one of the best baits 

 is the sand launce or eel. The French fishermen 

 are so well aware of their attractiveness that their 

 boats cross over from Dieppe and other ports to 

 Slapton and Torcross in Start Bay on the south 

 coast of Devon, purposely to purchase the launce, 

 some of the fishermen using fine meshed nets 

 especially to catch and supply these bait to the 

 foreigners ; they sell it at from twenty pence to 

 two shillings per bushel. Mr. Low says, " It is 

 found very frequently round the Orkney Islands ; 

 some are caught at the fishermen's lines, but the 

 otter is by far the most successful in killing con- 

 gers. He brings them ashore, and eats but a very 

 small part, leaving the rest for the next comer, 

 and where his haunts are known, the country peo- 

 ple are very careful every morning to search for 

 the remains of his overnight's feast, and are sel- 

 dom disappointed, usually finding cod, ling some- 

 times, but especially congers, which are oftener 

 seen amongst the deep hollows of the rock than 

 further at sea. Congers are caught at all distances 

 from the shore, to six or eight miles from the 

 land, but in all cases the bottom should be rocky 

 if you wish to ensure success. The chief conger 



