APPENDIX 237 
istic sport at this port is the fishing for bass and grey 
mullet from the piers and bridges. Of the mullet- 
fishing with macaroni for bait something has already 
been said ; and for the following notes on the bass-fish- 
ing at Passage Bridge I have to thank Mr. C. H. Wheeley. 
Passage Bridge, he says, spans the inlet between 
Weymouth and Portland ; and although the fishing was 
perhaps better before the building of the iron bridge, 
sport is still fairly good if you hit on the right tide. 
August and September are the months for this sport, 
and strong tackle must be used, as the best fish are taken 
on the spring tides, which run swift in these parts. The 
largest bass are usually taken at night, at the half flood, 
the bait being strips of mackerel, soft crab, live shrimp, 
squid (locally, “‘quiddle”), or, when procurable, living 
sand-eel. The “ Wagtail,” trimmed on wire, isa good 
artificial bait. Most of Mr. Wheeley’s bass were caught 
here on strips of mackerel ; and an angler fishing near 
him caught on one occasion a bass weighing near 13 lbs., 
using for bait the head of a mackerel. There is an inn 
at the Weymouth end of the bridge, giving shelter in 
dirty weather and refreshment at all times; and the best 
spot for the bass was alongside this inn, where the point 
of the wall formed an eddy with the flowing tide. Large 
fish have to be played to the Portland end of the bridge, 
where the bank slopes gradually to the water and a long- 
handled gaff can be used. 
Mr. G. R. Clarke sends mea note on the fishing at 
this place, which one is more apt to associate 
with the lately ostracised oyster. The fish, he 
says, are mainly flat-fish (soles, dabs, and plaice, 
the last-named up to 2 lbs.) and ‘“‘silver”’ eels, the bait 
most used being lugworm. Prince’s Channel, 11 miles run 
from the Nore, seems to be one of the principal waters, 
and Thomas Knight (charge, 6s. per day) of 45, Albert 
Street, is recommended as fisherman. 
Whit- 
stable 
ABROAD, 
EUROPE. 
North Sea fishing is all practically the same as that 
obtained on our East Coast, while the sport that offers on 
the less exposed portions of the west coasts of France 
