190 SEA-FISH. 
the marks for flat-fish that occur to memory, 
because these are, plaice and dabs more particu- 
larly, among the most abundant fish within five 
miles of the coast. It may be borne in mind that, 
although they affect sand, or even mud, the finest 
plaice are often caught on the edge of rocks, and I 
have even taken them well on the reef, as evidenced 
by my hooking sponges and weeds at the same 
time. 
Among the best plaicing-grounds that I can call 
to mind at the moment are those off 
Bee Bopeep (St. Leonard’s), September being 
pect the best month. Lugworm can be dug 
with ease at half ebb on the shore abreast 
of the ground, which is known to all the local 
fishermen, and there is no better bait locally. 
There is another good ground just east of Beachy 
Head, where you also stand a good chance of a 
catch of whiting. 
At Bournemouth, quantities of small plaice and 
Bourne- dabs are caught throughout the summer on 
mouth what is known as the dabbing-ground, less 
agreeably as the outfall (a name not remotely con- 
nected with the corporation sewage department: see 
Appendix) ; but by far the largest catches of flat fish 
at Bournemouth, in point of both numbers and 
individual size, are made on the “ hard grounds,” two 
or three miles out, found by getting the cabmen’s 
shelter by the pier under the tall steeple of St. 
Peter’s church, and opening the outer edge of 
Branksea Island (Poole Harbour) over the first sand- 
bank. This “hard” is out and away the best all- 
round ground for summer fishing ; and I have taken 
on it in an afternoon conger, pollack, mackerel, 
whiting, plaice, dab, gurnard and codling, not to men- 
