122 SEA-FISH. 
for somehow even a small bass seems heavy on a 
light line, and the power in his tail make him 
a formidable antagonist, especially where your 
movements are hampered by posts and girders all 
around, to say nothing of half-a-dozen others 
fishing at your elbow. It is impossible to lay down 
any rules for behaviour under such conditions ; 
all one can say is, stick to your bass as long 
as possible ; never, unless there is neither gaff nor 
net handy, attempt to lift him out on the hook, as 
the latter will in nine cases out of ten break away ; 
and do not be in a hurry to land him, as every 
extra minute the fish is played on the hook tires 
him into a more suitable frame of mind for the 
final act in the tragedy. And when you do get 
your bass safe and sound on the grating, be not 
over anxious to grasp the prize, for the percoid 
dorsal fins are exceeding sharp, and make a nasty 
job of it with a careless hand. 
Mackerel-fishing from piers is not a very gencral 
amusement, and I do not know of any 
book on sea-fishing in which it is men- 
tioned. It is only during the last two years indeed 
that I have practised it myself, and I came upon 
Bourne- the idea quite by chance. Onc evening on 
mouth Bournemouth pier, I found an angler just 
arrived from Birmingham, and with proper en- 
thusiasm trying his luck in the salt before he had 
had bit or sup. But, alas! it was the old story ; he 
was using his old roach-tackle, lightest of rods, 
tight gut line, perhaps four yards of it, just enough 
shot to sink his little porcupine float, and a small 
hook embedded in a mussel. I soon got into 
conversation with him, in the free and easy manner 
permitted to the craft, and learnt, as I expected, 
Mackerel 
