SOME BRITISH SEA FISHES AND FISHING 249 



prepared with the greatest nicety, and put up in 

 perfectly pure oil, superior to that of the foreign 

 article. 



It is satisfactory, however, to note that Cornish 

 pilchards and Cornish sardines still figure in the 

 Army and Navy Stores List. 



That the pilchard industry is a paying one seems 

 doubtful. The restricted market is a great draw- 

 back, but in view of modern facilities for cold 

 storage on shore, and refrigerating on board ship, 

 there may be developed a big trade in fresh 

 pilchards to foreign countries. The fish are kere, 

 and would-be purchasers are there; the point is 

 to bring the two together. 



But now for more personal recollections of sea- 

 fish and fishing. 



At Falmouth I used to go out regularly in a 

 small boat with one companion to fish for mackerel, 

 pollack, bass, or anything that might turn up. We 

 had ground-lines, but seldom used them, as 

 whiffing was better sport. 



Whiffing, known as " trailing " in fresh-water 

 fishing, is the process of towing a slightly weighted 

 line after a slowly sailing or gently pulled boat. 

 The length of line let out depends upon circum- 

 stances, such as the tide, or the colour and rough- 

 ness of the sea. The number of lines should be 



