SHORE-FISHING. 97 
turn of yellow wool or silk, wool for preference, as 
the silk (or, in a still greater degree, cotton) is apt 
to cut through the bait. 
Soft crab, or rather the soft interior of the 
common shore-crah—curiously enough it is Zhe 
bait for groper in Australian rock-fishing — is 
another favourite bait ; and Mr. Mackay even tells 
of a rock-fisher, who was hard up for bait, making 
an excellent catch of coal-fish with a fish of that 
species cut in strips. They use the black crab for 
preference, as it has not the market value of the 
red. The latter, it is noticed, has to be sought in 
the rocky crevices, whereas the former may be 
found among the weed and in the pools left at low 
water. The inside only is used for bait, that of a 
large crab being sufficient for two baits at least. 
It is, like the mussel, tied on the hook, and is 
perhaps still more killing. Other baits, less in 
favour, are herring, lugworm and sand-eel. 
There is then nothing peculiar in the tackle used 
in this fishing, a stout rod, with running line and 
twisted gut paternoster, answering every purpose. 
Some anglers, with plenty of time at their disposal 
and a weakness for trying experiments, catch their 
rock-fish with fly or spinner; but I cannot, save 
under very exceptionable circumstances, recommend 
cither of these practices, sporting though they be, 
to those who want to make a good basket. Sports- 
manlike methods should, it is unnecessary to say, 
be followed in salt as in fresh water, but there is no 
need to choose out of a number of legitimate ways 
of taking fish the one least likely to meet with 
success. Therefore, the majority of rock-fishers 
will elect to use natural bait. It is usually 
handy at low water, and the angler can then often 
UG 
