116 



SPEAEING FLAT FISH. 



the sand or mud. The shore-end is generally anchored to a 

 stone, and the further end fastened to the top of a stout staflf 

 ' firmly fixed in the beach, and generally attached also to a stone 

 to prevent it drifting ashore in the event of being loosened 

 from its socket. From the staff' almost to the shore, hooks are 

 tied along the line at distances of a yard. The hooks are 

 baited at low tide, and on the return of next low tide the line 

 is examined. This is neither a satisfactory nor sure method of 

 fishing, as many of the fish wriggle themselves free, and clear 

 the hook of the bait, and many, after being caught, fall a prey 

 to dogfish, etc., so that the disappointed fisher, on examining 

 his line, too often finds a row of baitless hooks, alternating 

 with the half-devoured bodi«s of haddocks, fiounders, saithe, 

 and other shore fish.. 



I may just name another mode of obtaining sport, which is 

 by spearing flat fish, such as fiounders, dab, plaice, etc. No 

 rule can be laid down on this method of 

 fishing. It has been carried on success- 

 fully by means of a common pitchfork, but 

 some gentlemen go the length of having 

 fine spears made for the purpose, very long 

 and with very sharp prongs ; others, again, 

 use a three-pronged farm-yard "graip," 

 which has been known to do as much real 

 work as more elaborate utensils specially contrived for the 

 purpose. The simplest directions I can give to those who try 

 this style of fishing are just to spear all the fish they can see, 

 but the general plan is to stab in the dark with the kind of 

 instrument delineated above. At the mouths of most of the 

 large English rivers there is usually abundance of all the minor 

 kinds of flat fish. 



Lobsters and crabs can be taken at certain rocky places of 

 the coast ; mussels can be jacked 

 from the rocks, and cockles can 

 be dug for in the sand. Shrimps 

 can also be taken, and various 

 other wonders of the sea and 

 its shores may be picked up. 

 After a storm a great number 

 of curious fishes and shells may 

 be gathered, and some of these 

 are very valuable as specimens of natural history. The ap- 



