244 SEA-FISH. 
“ After an average day’s sport off one of the numerous 
small inlets of False Bay, the hook and line fishermen 
may usually expect to come in with the bottom of the 
boat loaded with magnificent fish. In these days, when 
anglers go so far afield for their sport, fishermen may be well 
advised to try the Cape seas. The voyage now lasts no 
more than a trifle overa fortnight, and, as I have hinted, 
some of the finest sea-fishing in the world lies awaiting 
the traveller at Cape Town and in its vicinity. The 
pleasures of this magnificent fishing are greatly enhanced 
by the fine climate and some of the most beautiful 
scenery to be found south of the equator.” 
AUSTRALIA. 
There are three principal kinds of amateur sea-fishing 
practised by Australians : there is the famous schnapper- 
fishing on the outer reefs; then there is the more restful 
hand-lining for black bream in the creeks and_so- 
called “harbours”; and, lastly, there is the rock-fishing 
for groper and other large fish. 
I had, during my stay in the colonies, several enjoy- 
able schnapper outings, and belonged, indeed, to two 
schnapper clubs, admirable institutions, by which the 
expense of hiring the necessary steam tug and crew for 
the day is shared by a party of from six to twenty. 
eee The grounds, otherwise reefs of rocks, lie, as a 
P ing rule, about two miles from the coast, and there 
is a constant succession of these reefs along the 
coasts of New South Wales and Queensland, from Port 
Jackson northwards past Broken Bay and Moreton 
Island. The correct thing for really good schnapper 
fishing is to leave the Circular Quay, Sydney (or any 
other quay anywhere else), about midnight and steam 
away to sea so as to drift over the grounds as it is getting 
light next morning. No anchor is used in this fishing, the 
tide, which is usually considerable, being allowed to carry 
the boat broadside on over the reef, so that all the party 
must necessarily fish from the same side of the boat. 
As soon as the boat has drifted to the edge of the reef, 
which is usually announced by the capture of one or 
two “flatheads,” allies of our gurnard that dwell mostly 
