to "M. M." at the time (Nov., 1890), my book (the production of which has been repeatedly and unavoidably hindered) had already been for many months in the hands of the publisher, any alterations being made since then being only trifling, where there was a necessity to bring the book down to date. The Sea-Fishing Club proposed by "M. M." should, if a success, prove a national benefactor. A somewhat careful study of the German fisheries in the Baltic for nearly a year has shown me some of the weak points in our own trawling system. Our own sea-fisheries are in sad need of reform, and if the Sea-Fishing Club could, with the help of Parliament, bring about such reform, it would earn the gratitude of future generations.

With regard to the small sketch-maps, the figures. on them denote the depth in fathoms, as taken from Government charts. These are by no means so exactly or fully entered as to serve for a sailing-chart, but their purpose is merely to aid the angler in finding deep water. Some of the "marks' are dated: it must be remembered that fish periodically shift their position.

In conclusion, I must express my deep obligations to Mr. Marston for his kind permission to use back numbers of the Fishing Gazette, to the columns of Fishing and Shooting and the Field, and to Mr. Wilcocks and the many other fellow-anglers who have so kindly helped me in collecting information from all parts of the coast.

F. G. A.

London, 1891.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I.

PART I.

TACKLE AND BAITS.

INTRODUCTION TO PART I.

SEA-FISH AND THEIR HAUNTS; LOCALITY;

SEA-FISHING ON THE

ENGLISH COAST.

PART I.

TACKLE AND BAITS.

INTRODUCTION TO PART I.

HE First Part of this book, although unavoidably the least original, contains perhaps the essence of the whole. For the remainder of the book I am solely responsible, but the matter referring to "Tackle and Baits" has of course been handled by every writer on the subject. It is thus to be expected that many hints in this part of the book have been already given in one form or another in one or all of the three books that already exist on Sea-Fishing. I could not on this account leave them out, but have, to the best of my knowledge, fully acknowledged all indebtedness. On the two very interesting questions on

B

the subject of local baits, and artificial and natural baits, have only touched very briefly, but I hope at some future date to see them more fully discussed in the columns of the fishing papers, to both of which, as also to the Field, I have to acknowledge my great obligations.