FISH-NOTES FROM GREAT YARMOUTH. 11 



when dronf^lit stfignates, and the water is low; a "let in" of 

 fresh water from the river through the sluices enlivens them at 

 once, as those who use the " lamhnet " are well aware. 



Scad. — Durinj^ the latter ])art of August quite an unexpected 

 invasion of "Horse-mackerel " (Scads, TnicJturus trachuriis) c&me 

 to the shallow waters. I saw a 50-lb. catch, taken by a lad 

 before breakfast on the morning of the 20th; some of them 

 scaled If lb. For a few days excellent sport was enjoyed by 

 those who cast angle from Britannia Pier; the fish bit fast and 

 furiously, not rejecting a bright, naked hook. On one occasion 

 a soldier, home for a rest from the Front, secured no less than 

 140 fish. 



It is rather curious that small shoals of only very juvenile 

 Bass should occasionally visit this neighbourhood ; these are 

 seldom more than a span long each, whilst a few miles down the 

 Suffolk coast, more particularly at Aldeburgh, they are habitually 

 larger and abundant. The ' Angler's News ' of September 25th 

 records : " Large hauls of Bass at the harbour-mouth (Alde- 

 burgh) by means of draw-nets. One was hooked from the south 

 beach weighing 12 lb. 2 oz. It took a small "Whiting, and gave 

 the angler a 200 yards' run ! " 



Two fine, full, 'longshore Herrings were taken in a smelt-net 

 on Breydon during the first week in October ; their advent here 

 is a very rare occurrence. 



October 18th. — I had noticed Dog-fish (Tope and Piked Dog) 

 lying in a heap on board the fishing-boats, and find that a ready 

 sale exists for them nowadays, their skinned carcases being sold 

 as "Flake." On several occasions I have wandered by the tide- 

 mark and among the bye ways m the neighbourhood of the fish 

 wharf, finding it a rare thing now to see a Dog-fish thrown 

 away. On this date I called in at the back premises of a leading 

 fishmonger, and found three hands busily at work skinning a 

 trunk of Dog-fishes. Some had been netted in an oily area, and 

 their skins were black with the sticky liquid ; this, however, 

 mattered little, for with a few dexterous movements their jackets 

 were drawn off, and a headless and now tempting-looking carcase 

 was ready for a purchaser's attentions. 



Flounders. — On November 6th I went up Breydon on the 

 low ebb-tide, taking my eel-spear and butt-dart, the latter very 



