Looe. On the rocky grounds off the coast of Cornwall, from two to six miles, the Pollack run very large, and are often abundant. Between Plymouth and Looe, Whiting, Mackerel, Dabs, &c. are caught the whole distance, according to the nature. of the ground; numerous Whiting-Pollack are taken just outside the harbour's mouth, near Looe Island, and at other spots; Mussels are found in the river. Sand-Eels abundant here. Above the reach of the tide, and in the back streams, Trout may be taken. Polperro.-Polperro is the next harbour, off which the fishing is much the same as at Looe, which, with every other small village or town on this coast, participates in the Pilchard trade. The Udder Rock, a sunken danger half a mile off shore between Polperro and Fowey, is a noted place for Pollack, and has sometimes shoals of Bass, which latter here rarely take a bait. Fowey, an excellent Station.-Fowey is the best and most extensive harbour on this coast, except Plymouth and Falmouth, of the same character as Dartmouth, but with less depth of water. The railway station at Par is only four miles from Fowey, and an extension is now open to Fowey. The inner Whiting ground is not more than three miles off the harbour, which is a great advantage. Mackerel and Whiting-Pollack are often numerous both inside and outside the harbour. Near the Cannis Rock, by Gribben Head-on which the sea-mark is erected—the latter are often very fine. Trout are numerous in the streams tributary to the Fowey River, and in the Leryn about six miles up: taken altogether, I consider Fowey to be a very desirable station, ranking with Plymouth and Slapton, without doubt the best of all in the district, from the east end of the Isle of Wight to Falmouth. The result of one day's fishing off Fowey, in July 1862, was as follows: one hundred red Gurnards, sixty Sea-Bream, forty Whiting, and a large Pollack about ten pounds' weight. On another occasion, about one hundred and twenty Whiting and thirty Gurnards. There is special streaming fishing for large Pollack in the offing. Fisherman, C. Pill, Polruan. From the beginning of July to the end of the season, Pilchards for bait may frequently be procured in the morning from the drift-boats, in default of which Mussels can be obtained by dredging higher up the river. The outer Whiting ground is easily found by steering out S. by W. or SSW., until the Gull Rock midway between the Deadman Point and Falmouth is visibly open of the Deadman or Dodman. This rock is also called the Gray. Mevagissey. The general sea-fishing on this coast will be found in the bays of St. Austell and Mevagissey. At Mevagissey there is an extensive Pilchard fishery. Dabs may be taken over the side of a vessel at anchor almost everywhere in the bay. I have gathered Mussels for bait off the dock entrance walls at Pentewan, the next place NE. of Mevagissey. They should not be used as food. There is Pollack ground by Chapel Point, and round the Gwinges Rock off it, also under the Deadman. NE. of Gwinges, 720 feet, is a small rock, the Yaw, appearing at very low tides. Gwineas or Gwinges Rock is also noted in summer for large shoals of Bass. Yachts crossing the bay between the Deadman and Falmouth, will, just before coming up with its western horn, called the Zone or Zoze, meet with some Crab-pot buoys, on a shoal called the 'Bizzies.' This is considered good Pollack ground. Falmouth. Before entering this harbour is an excellent spot for Pollack and other fish, known as the 'Old Wall,' a pinnacle rock with 26 feet over it, and 5 or 6 fathoms around. It is S. by compass, 1 mile from St. Anthony's lighthouse, and I mention it because an old Cornish fisherman informed me it was an unusual place for fish. The marks areRestronguet smelting-chimney up the creek with east end of the broken rocks at St. Anthony's Point (the lighthouse) and Greeb Point next north of Killygerran Head showing east of it. Another mark is Flushing Mound seen over the rising ground at the north end of Pendennis land. Very large Pollack in the offing, on other grounds well known to fishermen of St. Mawes. When running along the coast, weather permitting, I generally tow a line with a Mackerel bait, spinner, or flies, round the headlands, en passant, and not unfrequently pick up a Pollack or two, for these localities are the strongholds of these fish, as well as insulated rocky grounds at a distance from the shore. Round the Black Rock in the harbour entrance, and under Pendennis Castle, some Pollack may be taken. Mackerel enter Falmouth, in common with other extensive arms of the sea, and some few Whiting are at times to be caught in Carrick Roads. In the outer roads off Swanpool Beach there is ground-fishing for the usual fish on the coast, and on all the more western portions of Cornwall, off Penzance &c. is excellent fishing: Pilchards can generally be obtained for bait. There is some pier-fishing from the new works. River Hel It is a very Helford.-Four miles beyond Falmouth the falls into the sea, forming the harbour of Helford. snug anchorage, and abounds with fish. On a visit to this harbour in a yacht we took one day, in a trammel, twenty-two Red Mullet and five Soles, besides some Plaice, Flounders, Grey Mullet, and Bass, as well as three Lobsters. Pollack, Mackerel, and Congers can also be caught here with hook and line, without going outside the harbour entrance. About 2 miles south-east of Helford the Falmouth boats often catch abundance of Whiting and Bream, and the latter fish may be taken at a much less distance from the harbour. At the Manacles Rocks, beyond Helford, very large Pollack are often met with by the fishermen ; shoals of Bass also here. Isles of Scilly.-Both in the various harbours, and in the open sea outside, the Pollack-fishing is remarkably good. Without leaving the harbours, a hundred or more Pollack may be taken in a day, either by whiffing with the natural or artificial baits, or by fishing at anchor with rag-worms dug from the disintegrated granite of the beaches, as in the Channel Islands, or with the living Sand-Eel, which can be caught with seines, by those provided with them. At New Grimsby anchorage I have had excellent fishing, and by Shipman Head, and the Kettle Rock, just off the entrance, the fish are larger. The sea being often heavy at the last named spot, caution must be used. At the Seven Stones Rocks, Pollack are very large. The Island of Guernsey is worthy a visit by anyone taking an interest in sea-fishing, particularly on account of the living Sand-Eel method, which can be here seen in perfection in summer, and would, I am confident, if adopted generally, yield astonishing results. There is good fishing also round Alderney, but at Jersey it is not considered so good; in fact, that island receives much of its fish from Guernsey; however, the fishing of Jersey is not fully developed. I would recommend visitors to these islands to take with them on their return at least a couple of hair-lines with pipe-leads, and a Sand-Eel basket, there called a 'courge.' The fishing of Guernsey has much deteriorated during the last fifteen years. Alderney. Visitors to Alderney will find numerous Pollack in the rocky bays under the fort, and close to the shore whiffing with flies or worms, particularly just before and after sunset. Also Bream, by mooring with a stone, and fishing with lightlyleaded lines, or lines without lead. The soft part of Limpets is a very good bait for Bream (see .' Sea-Bream,' p. 171). Red Mullet may be caught by a trammel. Lug-worms are dug out of the sand near the old pier. Good sized Pouting are taken near the end of the breakwater; and near the Island of Burhou, on the other side of the Singe Passage, there is excellent fishing, provided you go with an island fisherman, without whom it would not be prudent for any stranger to venture outside the breakwater, on account of the various settings and rapidity of the tides amongst the rocks. The rock or mudworm is here found by digging under stones &c. Sea-fish of all kinds may be taken from the breakwater, or any steep rock found available, with the rod or throw-out lines. Off the breakwater a floating trot is found killing. Large Bass are taken in the Swinge, or Singe Passage, by trolling under sail with a Sand or Freshwater Eel bait ; under favourable circumstances the fly might be used. The Isle of Man also affords good fishing, the Bahama Bank being a celebrated ground for Mackerel and Plaice &c. Sand-Eels are very abundant in Ramsay Bay, but I have not heard that nets are kept for taking them; on the contrary, I am informed they are dug out of the sand with forks. The Bahama Bank is six miles from Ramsay Pier, and between it and the shore is some stony ground where Pollack or Lythe are very large. There is good fishing also in Douglas and other bays, and Cod and Haddock are taken in the offing. Small Freshwater Eels and worms are procurable in the mouths of the rivers which form the various harbours of the island, but for ground fishing Herring is chiefly used. Filey, Yorkshire. Although my remarks on fishing stations have chiefly been confined to those I have myself visited, Filey has been so frequently recommended by correspondents of the 'Field' newspaper, that I think it well to mention it here. It offers special advantages for both fishing from the shore with rod and line, and also for boat-fishing. At times many Pollack and Coal-fish are caught from the Brig, which is a reef of rocks running out into the sea a considerable distance, and forming as it were a kind of natural jetty or pier, with deep water alongside. The fish often run very large, and extra strong tackle is necessary, with fifty or sixty yards of running line. All the rocky ground about the Brig affords good Pollackfishing from a boat by the various methods described in this work, with either natural or artificial baits. The method of fishing with the living Sand-Eel, if procurable, would afford sport unattainable by other baits. Tynemouth. Good pier-fishing, also in the offing. Flamborough Head.-Large Whiting-Pollack, with spinning baits or flies, from the rocks, or better from a boat. Good fishing from the piers and in the offing, at both Scarborough and Whitby. Yarmouth and Lowestoft.-Fishing from the beaches and piers, with throw-out lines, and variety of fishing in boats, Whiting plentiful, Cod and Codlings late in autumn and early winter. Dover.-Mullet, Pout, Smelts, Whiting-Coal, Codlings, and occasional Bass from the jetties, by angling with lugworm bait, found between the rocks under the cliff. Whiting also from the end of the Admiralty Pier; Mullet, Flounders, and Eels in the harbour. Whiffing with flies along the break |