BOAT-FISHING. 193 
—otherwise whiting-pout, or “bibs”—the case is 
very different, and, although it is not uncommon to 
make large catches of the smallest size from 
piers, like that at Hastings, not actually on 
the rocks, it is essential for good pout-fishing to 
take a boat and anchor exactly over some reef of 
rocks or wreck. Old wrecks are famous pout- 
grounds, and there are several in the Spithead. 
Pout-fishing is rarely much use in a strong tide, as 
the fish then seem to go off the feed. As silver 
whiting and flat-fish show no such fastidiousness, 
it is usual to anchor over the sand and fish for these 
and kindred spirits until the tide is slack enough to 
make it worth while bringing up on the rocks for 
the pout and small conger, the latter also objecting 
to strong currents almost as much as to very clear 
water. Occasionally, however, pout are found to 
feed throughout the day, and the great thing is to 
use just enough lead to “keep” the bottom without 
making the constant hauling too tiring. 
The continual shifting of leads in this and whiting- 
fishing in the tideway entails much unavoidable loss 
of time, and several devices more or less ingenious 
have appeared of late years to reduce this, among 
the best being a lead devised by Mr. Campbell 
Macpherson of Southampton, to whom I am 
indebted for the accompanying cut, the only 
improvement I can suggest being to invert the 
whole and use it with the pointed end downwards, 
in which position it will be less likely to get foul in 
the rocks. This lead makes a number of com- 
binations, the only objection, as in others con- 
structed on similar lines, being that when only one 
or two of the sections are in use, the extra brass 
wire exposed is too bright and conspicuous for 
oO 
Pouting 
