FISH AND FISHERIES OF EAST SUFFOLK. 



387 



creases in interest year by year. I refer to sea-angling, which 

 has become not only a means of recreation to hundreds of lovers 

 of the rod, but of a source of revenue to professional men, who 

 cater at the various seaside resorts for those who cast angle. 

 There are men and boats always obtainable at Aldeburgh, South- 

 wold, Lowestoft, Gorleston, and the villages along the coast. At 

 Aldeburgh flat-fish swarm in the bay ; and there is said to be 

 " Lobster-catching on the Thorpe Bocks in the summer." Ama- 

 teurs, for a consideration, can generally find a skipper willing to 

 ship them even during the November " spratting." Sea-fish may 

 be taken at Slaughden ; and at night, I understand, "the beach 

 [in late autumn] is illuminated by the lanterns of enthusiastic 

 Isaac Waltons." Mr. Clarke, of Aldeburgh, states that shoals of 

 fish are found from one hundred and thirty to three hundred 

 yards from the shore, while, if the sea is too rough for fishing, 

 the waters at the back of the town are available. 



At Southwold equally interesting sport may be obtained under 

 similar conditions, while the piers are favourite resorts. Lowes- 

 toft also offers favourable opportunities for sea- angling. 



Mr. F. G. Robson, Master of Claremont Pier, Lowestoft, has 

 kindly furnished me with the following statistics : — 



Season from October 6th to December 5th. 



1905. 



Whiting 41,116 



Cod 2,225 



Dabs 383 



Total 43,721 



1906. 



Whiting 71,029 



Cod 787 



Dabs 206 



Total 72,022 



1907. 1908. 



Whiting 27,502 Whiting 46,008 



Cod 281 Cod 4,285 



Dabs 1,382 



Total 29,165 



Dabs 1,111 



Total 51,404 



In an article to 'The Zoologist' (1901), on "Lowestoft 

 Fish-wharf," the late Mr. T. Southwell, presented us with an 

 entertaining view of that busy fish-market, detailing an inter- 

 esting catalogue of species he met with during a few days' 

 researches among the catches of the trawlers and drifters, con- 

 cluding his paper by a frank admission that " it would not be 



