620 



THE OCEAN WORLD. 



above the hook, which suspends the bait and exhibits it more clearly 

 to the fish by the motion of the wave. The fishermen, when not 

 engaged in hauling, shooting, or baiting the long lines, fish with 

 hand-lines, holding one in each hand, each armed with two hooks, 

 kept apart by a strong piece of wire. A heavy weight attached to 

 the lower end of each line keeps it steady near the ground, where the 

 fish principally feed. Enormous quantities of cod, haddock, whiting, 

 and coal-fish, with pollack, hake, ling, and torsk, are taken in this 

 way all round our coast. Of cod-fish alone 400 to 550 have been 



Fig. 392. — The Whiting (Merlaiigus vulgaris). 



taken in ten hours by one man, and eight men have taken eighty 

 score of cod in one day, fishing off the Doggerbank in five-and-twenty 

 fathoms water. Latterly the Norfolk and Lincoln, and even the 

 Essex, coasts, have yielded a large supply of fish, which are caught 

 as described, and are stowed in well-boats, in which they are car- 

 ried to Gravesend, whence they are transhipped into market boats, 

 and sent up to Billingsgate by each evening tide ; the store-boats 

 not being allowed to come up higher, as the fresh water would kill 

 the fish. 



The Haddock {Morrhua ceglefimis) is common in our markets ; it 

 is much smaller than the cod, but in other respects not unlike it. It 



