GRAY MULLET. 85 



I have often caught them, -with pilchard gut for 

 bait (when fishing for bass), ten pounds in weight. 

 They make a very bold fight for their liberty, and, 

 from their lips being very delicate and sensitive, 

 often break away by making a determined dash. 

 In the spring of 1847 I saw a shoal of these fish 

 surrounded by a sean, just at the mouth of a har- 

 bour on the Devonshire coast, and on weighing 

 the take they were found to have been more than 

 fourteen tons in dead weight, making a very good 

 return to the poor fishermen, Avho at that time of 

 the year are generally on short commons. 



The gray mullet is found all round the coasts of 

 Great Britain, and in Europe generally ; many 

 were taken in the harbour of Balaclava in 1854-55. 

 It spawns about June. Fine fishing tackle must be 

 used for these fish, much the same as for bass 

 fishing ; they also feed like pigs, by rooting in the 

 sand and mud with their noses. 



