368 MARKETABLE BRITISH MARINE FISHES 



Grimsby. At both of these ports welled smacks are used, and the cod 

 caught are brought back alive in the well, and kept alive for a time in cod 

 chests in the harbours. Whelks are largely used for bait, and the fishing 

 grounds are about the Dogger Bank and off the north-east coast of 

 England. Haddocks are also caught, as well as ling, skate, cat-fishes, 

 and coal-fish. Cromer Knoll, a bank at the south end of the Outer 

 Dowsing, is a favourite ground for long-lining in winter. Winter is the 

 principal time for long-lining in the North Sea ; after the beginning of 

 April the smacks used to go to Iceland and Faroe and fish with hand 

 lines, salting the fish on board. In summer and autumn the boats use 

 hand lines in the North Sea. At present the Faroe, Shetland, and Iceland 

 grounds are worked chiefly by large steamers fitted with wells, belonging 

 to Grimsby, and these vessels bring back enormous numbers of halibut, 

 as well as ling, cod, coal-fishes, cat-fishes, and skate. It is a striking sight 

 to see the long rows of immense halibut and other fish laid out on the 

 Grimsby pontoon when one of these vessels lands her catch from the 

 deep northern grounds. In the North Sea in winter the bait chiefly used 

 is whelks, but for the more northern grounds the vessels purchase small 

 coal-fish and herrings at Lerwick to bait the lines. 



North of the Farn Islands long-lining is carried on from a large 

 number of small fishing ports on the English and Scotch coasts by 

 means of smaller sailing boats without wells. Haddock are the fish 

 principally caught by these boats, and mussels are chiefly used for bait. 



In the south-west long-lining is carried on principally at Plymouth. 

 The boats used are small and open, mostly about twelve tons burthen. 

 The fish caught in largest numbers is conger, and this being a nocturnal 

 fish the lines are always shot at night. Cod, ling, and pollack are also 

 taken, as well as ray and skate. The grounds fished extend from Start 

 Point to Land's End, and to a distance of 30 or 40 miles from the 

 coast. 



