Teal
Wings. Two strips of brown turkey with black bar and white tips, tied flat.
Cheeks. Jungle cock. Head.-Black.
THE DURHAM RANGER.
A fly with "whole feather" wings, and body part silk floss, part fur." “ Tag. Silver twist and yellow floss silk.
Tail. A topping and Indian crow feather tied on flat. Butt. - Black herl. Body. - Two turns orange floss, two turns of dark orange seal's fur; the remainder black seal's fur. Ribs. Silver lace and tinsel. Hackle.
From orange floss, a white cock's hackle, with black centre and tips, dyed orange.
Shoulder hackle. Light blue. Wings.- Two golden pheasant tippet feathers on each side; between them two jungle-cock feathers, extending to the tip of the tail.
Topping on top. Cheeks. Chatterer.
Horns. Blue macaw. Head. Black.
Method of Tying.-As with trout flies, the gut has to be tied on first; but instead of a single strand of it, a salmon fly is dressed with a gut loop, as it is stronger and the fly not so liable to be flipped off.
Loop. The loop is made of stout single salmon gut for a small fly-and of treble twisted gut for a larger one. Careful preparation of the loop, before fixing, is necessary. A length of treble gut having been selected, it is doubled so as to form a loop; the ends are then untwisted slightly, each strand is cut to a different length, and tapered or pointed with a knife. If the loop is of single gut, the ends are similarly cut to a different length and tapered. The gut should be long enough for the loop to extend [SALMON about one-eighth of an inch beyond the head end of the hook shank, and for the longest end to reach nearly to a line drawn through the point of the hook, at right angles to the shank. The tying silk, doubled and waxed, is applied about the centre of the hook, and wound in open coils towards the head end; the loop is placed underneath, and the silk wound in close coils back over the hook and gut towards the bend, just far enough to cover the longest end. There it is finished off with a half hitch and the end cut off.
About one-eighth of an inch of the head end of the hook and the gut is always left bare until the wings are tied on. When hooks with metal eyes or loops are used, a layer of tying silk, commenced close to the eye, is wound closely down the shank, as far as a line drawn through the point of the hook at right angles to the shank, and finished off.
A fresh piece of silk is next fastened in at a spot above the root of the barb, and two or three turns of it are wound towards the bend of the hook. One end of a length of gold or silver twist is then stripped of its tinsel, between the finger nails, so that its silk core is expressed; the stripped end is tied in with two or three turns of silk, which is wound towards the bend. Four or five turns of the twist are next wound on, the first turn round the bare hook, the remaining coils towards the head end. One turn of tying silk fastens off the twist, the waste end of which is then stripped as before and cut off. Another turn of silk ties in a length of floss, three or four turns of which are wound on. The turns of tying silk which then fasten off the waste end of floss form the foundation for the tail, which comes next.
Tail. This may be a golden pheasant's topping, with perhaps a chatterer feather on each side, or a red crow's feather placed flat over it. The width of four turns of silk is as much as should be allowed for tying on any combination.
Butt. The butt, which hides these turns, follows. For a herl butt, a strand of an ostrich feather is wound on so that its fibres point towards the tail; three or four turns of it are enough. Wool butts should look like a ring, oval in outline, round the hook.
A piece of Berlin wool is torn into shreds, and rolled into the form of a tip cat"; one end of this is held close to the hook, while the other end and tying silk, after being twisted together, are wound round the hook; the coils are then pressed close together. 66 The last coil of the butt should be just over the point of the hook, supposing that a line were drawn from one to the other. at right angles to the shank; a short length SALMON of the hook is then bare between the butt and the silk which tied on the gut loop; this length is filled up with the ends of herl, floss, tail stumps, ribbing tinsel and body material, so as to form a level, tapering surface for the body material to cover. On completion of the butt, one end of the ribbing tinsel (stripped so as to expose the silk core) is tied in close to the butt.
Body. The body comes next. To look well, it should taper evenly from butt to head. It may be of floss, tinsel, or fur, or a combination of them. For the first, a length of floss is tied in at the head end of the hook, wound to the butt and back again, careful smoothing between the fingers at each turn being necessary in order to produce a glossy surface. A tinsel body is made as follows: the edge at one end of a piece of flat tinsel is cut to a point; this point is tied in close to the butt with one turn of silk; the extreme point is then turned back over the silk. Floss silk is next fastened in, and wound over the whole body, so as to give a true surface for the tinsel to rest upon; finally the tinsel is wound on so that each coil is close up to, but never overlaps, the last. For a fur body, the material is spun or twisted with the tying silk, after being evenly distributed along it; a taper is obtained either by a previous layer of floss, or by increasing the quantity of fur gradually towards the head. Body hackle. - The body hackle is the next item. The point is generally tied in at the spot where the second turn of ribbing tinsel will pass over the top of the body.
When the body is of tinsel or floss, tying silk need not be used to fix it, as these materials will hold the feather sufficiently firm. Cocks' hackles are always "doubled" before being tied on; that is, the fibres on one side of the stem are turned or bent over, so as to bring them close to the fibres on the other side of the stem. This enables the dresser to wind the feather round the hook with all fibres pointing in one direction, towards the tail. The point of the hackle is held between the right thumb and forefinger, best or bright side uppermost; hackle pliers, held in the palm of the left hand, grip the butt end of the feather, which must be kept taut, while the left thumb and forefinger press gently downwards on each side of the stem and towards the palm of the left hand, or against the run of the fibres.
If a coarse-fibred feather, macaw's for instance, is employed as a hackle, one side is usually stripped off; the left, where the feather is wound from the dresser, is the side to remove. (The right and left of a feather are always determined by holding it best side up, point away from, and butt to- IOI a wards the dresser.) When a jay's feather is required as a hackle, it is not sufficient to strip off one side. The stem is so thick that neat work would be impossible; the quill is therefore cut lengthways with knife, and the pith scraped away. On completion of the body, which may extend up to about one-eighth of an inch from the bare hook and gut, at the head end, the ribbing tinsel is wound on and fixed, care being taken that the second turn of it passes immediately in front of the hackle; the latterheld in the pliers-is then wound on its side, close behind the tinsel, and, on reaching the end of the ribbing, straight round, and at right angles to the hook shank, for two or three turns, the stump being fastened under the hook with a couple of turns of silk.
Shoulder hackle. The shoulder hackle, previously doubled, is then tied in, close to the last one, wound round, and finished off under the hook. The coils of silk which fasten off the shoulder hackle bind together that part of the hook and gut which have hitherto been bare. These coils must be close together and tight, so that they afford a firm surface for the wings to rest upon.
Wings and underwings.-Wings are of several kinds: built, mixed, single strip, and whole feather. Built wings always have underwings, generally of strips of feather, which are the first to be tied on. (Strips from right sides of feathers are always used for the wing nearest the dresser, and strips from left sides for the wing furthest from him; rights from one feather will unite with rights from other feathers, and lefts with lefts.) To fix the underwings, equal strips are cut from the right and left side of the feather required; they are placed back to back, exactly coinciding, on the top of the hook and tied on in the following manner: the left thumb and forefinger grip the hook and strips at the point of tie; the silk, passed up under the thumb over the strips, and down under the forefinger, is gradually drawn tight, the fingers keeping the strips upright, and on the top of the hook. Three or four turns of silk are sufficient; the stumps are then cut off so as to form a taper.
A broad strip, made by uniting "right" strips from different feathers, is next tied on at the side nearest the dresser. The strip is placed against the side, with the butt ends down the side of the hook shank, and held there between the right thumb and forefinger; the left thumb and forefinger. Then, from above, take hold of the strip and hook, just behind the point of tie; the left thumb slides forward and grips the butt to the side, taking the place of the right thumb; the silk is next passed up under the thumb, over the strip, down under the forefinger, and gradually pulled down, while the thumb presses the strip away from the dresser; a second turn is wound in the same way. All the fibres should be drawn down, one on top of the other, and not round the hook.
A similar strip is next tied on the far side of the hook. Another strip, made up from differently coloured feathers, is tied on at each side in the same manner. The stumps are then collected, and cut off to a taper.
Mixed wings are made of single strands of different feathers; "right" strands are laid down one by one, on any flat surface, until a broad strip has been formed; a "left" strip is made up similarly; the two wings are placed back to back and tied on the top of the hook.
Single strip wings are tied on upright, as in built wings, or, horizontally, standing out from the sides of the hook; for these, the grip of the thumb and forefinger is above and below the hook and strip, while the silk is being drawn tight.
Whenever whole feathers are employed for wings, the centre quills should be dented with the thumb nail before they are tied in, and in the case of toppings tied on the top of a built or mixed wing, the stem should be bent up against the thumb nail, otherwise these feathers press down, and prevent free play of the wings.
When all the wing materials have been fixed, the stumps should be cut off so that, when they are bound down, a tapered head can be made; varnish is next applied to them. The tying silk is then wound evenly towards the end of the hook shank and back again for three or four turns. Herl for the head is then tied in. The fibres may face either way, and the silk be finished off with a half hitch, behind or in front of the herl. If behind, a short length of the tying silk must be varnished before the half hitch is drawn tight; if in front, the whole of the exposed coils of tying silk must be varnished.
W. HALE.
SALMON MEASUREMENTS, &c. - Body rather elongate, with the abdominal profile more curved than that of the back.
The proportions of one part of the body to the remainder vary considerably in this fish, thus in the young we find a comparatively large head and eyes, a short snout and rounded body, &c.; but as the adult stage is attained there is greater depth of the body due to a more prominent abdomen.
After breeding, the kelts are recognisable by low, lanky bodies and long heads. The length of the head varies with age and sex, being comparatively slightly longer in the parr than in the female grilse or salmon, while in the male salmon it is longer than [SALMON in the female. Length of head from 44 to 4 or even 5 in the parr and male salmon to 5 or 51 in the female salmon and grilse, while in barren males it is similar to what is seen in females, of caudal fin from 6 in the parr to 7½ in the salmon, height of body, which is greatest beneath the origin of the dorsal fir, 4 to 5 in the total length. Eye - situated slightly in front of the middle of the length of the head (or in the middle of that length in breeding males) and comparatively much smaller in adult than in young fish: interorbital space convex and equal to about the length of the postorbital portion of the head. Snout much produced in the male, and during the breeding season the extremities of the lower jaw is provided with a strongly curved prominence which precludes the closure of the two jaws. The posterior extremity of the maxilla reaches to beneath the middle of the eye in the parr but beyond its posterior extremity in the adult: while it is comparatively wider in the young than in the adult. Opercle higher than wide, from about more in the parr, or in the grilse or young salmon, and in large salmon: subopercle from to of the height of the opercle, while its posterior margin forms a semi-circular curve along with that of the opercle.1 Preopercle with its angle rounded and having a rather distinct lower limb. Teeth in a single row in the jaws and palatines, the pre-maxillary one being rather stouter than those in the mandibles, while the maxillary and palatine ones are still smaller. In adults the teeth are often found to be larger in the jaws of males than in those of females. Head of the vomer without teeth, which are mostly in a single row along its body, and which are gradually lost at an early age, commencing from behind forwards, so that in a half-grown or adult salmon only I to 4 are present, the anterior 2 of which are occasionally in a double row: in the parr and smolt a double row exists along the body of the vomer which anteriorly is usually armed with 4 teeth placed in a single row. Three to six sharp curved teeth on each side of the tongue. Fins-mature fish have the fins shorter and more rounded than is seen in sterile ones. The rayed dorsal fin is a little longer at its base than is its highest ray. Pectoral in adults as long as the head excluding the snout, and does not reach half-way to the ventral, whereas in the parr it extends of the distance. Ven- 1 In Yarrell it is correctly observed that what distinguishes the Salmo salar from all other species is the form of the opercular bones, which show a rounded outline to the posterior edge of the gill-covers, the longest diameter of which to the nose would be in a line through the eye, while in all other British migratory species the same line would pass below the eye.
SAMBAR] a steel tral in adults reaches half-way to the base of the anal in the parr, anal one-fourth higher than its base is long. The form of the caudal alters with sexual development : in the young parr it is deeply cleft up to 2 or 21 feet in length, it is as a rule truncated, while with advancing age it becomes more square. Scales in the caudal portion of the body they are larger in this than any other British species of the genus, there being from II to I2 rows in an oblique line running from behind the adipose dorsal fin downwards and forwards to the lateral-line.
The skin on the back of old males both during and subsequent to the spawning season becomes thickened and spongy, causing the scales to be imbedded. Cœcal appendages varying from about 50 to 80.
Colours in adults superiorly of blue, becoming lighter on the sides and beneath. Mostly a few rounded or x-shaped spots scattered over the body above the lateral-line and upper half of the head, being more numerous in the female than in the male. Dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins dusky black: ventral and anal white, the former grayish internally. Prior to entering fresh waters these fish are of a brilliant steel blue along the back which becomes changed to a muddy tinge when they enter rivers. After these fish have passed into fresh waters for the purpose of breeding, numerous orange streaks appear in the cheeks of the male, and also spots, or even marks of the same, and likewise of a red colour on the body. It is now termed a "red-fish." The female, however, is dark in colour and known as a "black-fish." (Day's Fishes of Great Britain and Ircland. vol. ii., p. 67.) SAMBAR (Cervus unicolor). -Sambar in Central and Southern India; Maha in the Terai and the foot-hills of the Central Himalayas abutting on it; Gerrow on the middle and higher ranges of the Himalaya; and sundry other local appellations.
Habitat. This deer is one of the largest members of its tribe in South-Eastern Asia.
It is common in the more or less hilly jungles of Central and Southern India and Ceylon, and so far east as the Malay Peninsula and some of the islands; also on the Himalaya, from the province of Sirmur eastwards, up to an altitude of about 10,000 feet, in fact as high as the limit of forest. It may be met with either in small batches or singly, and, during the rutting season, in larger herds. Although essentially a woodland animal, it may often be seen out feeding in the early morning and in the evening on open slopes and glades where the grass is green, but never far from its forest retreat, in the shady depths of which it lies up all day. At night it makes raids on patches of cultivation in the vicinity of, or even at considerable distances from, its regular haunts. Description. The average height of full-grown stags is about 131 hands. Hair coarse generally, longish and wiry, particularly about the neck and chest, where it forms a kind of ruff, which is erected when excited or angry. In general colour it varies from darkish to paler slaty-brown, ddwell 1899 SAMBAR. according to season and locality. In the higher Himalayan regions its coat is darker, thicker, and furnished with an undergrowth of very short and soft pile known as "pashm," which, in winter, is common to almost all the quadrupeds, even to the horses and dogs, as a natural protection from the excessive cold. On the buttocks and under-parts the hair is yellowish. The tail is unusually long for a deer, the ears are big and wide, and the eye-pits large and capable of being much protruded.
Hinds and fawns are generally lighter coloured than the stags. The alarm-note is a loud and deep single bellow, which it emits at short intervals.
The antlers are in best condition from October until March or April, after which time they are shed. Those of an adult stag are often very massive and lengthy, but with only one long brow tine, pointing well upwards, and two terminal tines on each, and occasionally a short posterior snag at the bifurcation of the terminal tines.
THE ENCYCI.OPÆDIA OF SPORT The writer possesses a sambar head with antlers 42 inches long, average beam girth 8 inches, and spread of a yard; but such a trophy as this never fell to his rifle, and not often, he imagines, to that of any one else. The Malay sambar differs somewhat from the typical Indian race, and smaller races are found in the Philippines, Formosa, &c., while a larger one inhabits Sze-chuen in north-western China.
Methods of Hunting. In the Terai and such-like forest localities, where the undergrowth is thick and tangled, sambar cannot be easily hunted on foot, owing to its acute powers of hearing and smelling, but is generally shot from elephant-back. On hilly and more open ground it is stalked. In Ceylon it is often hunted down with dogs trained to such work. The stags are harmless unless, perhaps, when a wounded one is brought to bay. a Weapon. These deer are tenacious of life; but a 500 or even 450 bore double express rifle with a hollow-pointed projectile of soft lead, plugged either with copper tube or bit of wood, is quite capable, if the shot be properly placed, of bringing down a sambar stag, however large he may be.
DONALD MACINTYRE.
SANDPIPER.-A general term applied to such of the smaller wading birds (Limicola) as frequent the sandy shores, sea ooze, and mud flats of tidal rivers, in search of the small mollusca, crustacea, and sand worms upon which they feed. 66 دو Classification. In a restricted sense the "sandpiper" would exclude the ringed plovers (locally known as "sand-plovers and sand-larks"), the turnstones, and oyster-catchers, as well as the curlews, godwits, and snipes, whose divergent structure correlated with habits has caused them to be placed in different sub-families.
Roughly speaking, and to facilitate recognition, the sandpipers proper may be divided into two typical groups: one (Tringa) comprising species characterised by possessing a short, sensitive bill, short legs with toes cleft to the base (as in the plovers) and with the tail feathers plain, i.e., not barred; the other (Totanus) including such as have a harder or more horny bill, the toes either wholly or partially connected by a web at the base, and tail feathers more or less barred. Within and around these two groups we find several species showing modifications of structure, or seasonal peculiarities of plumage, which have induced ornithologists to place them in distinct genera under such names, Actitis, Actodromas, Ancylochilus, Arquatella, Bartramia, Calidris, Ereunetes, Limonites, [SANDPIPER Pelidna, Symphemia, Tringoides, Tringites, &c. The points of difference, however, on which some of these genera have been separated from the above-mentioned types are slight in character and of doubtful importance, the multiplicity of names serving only to create confusion and obscure rela- (Cory Slannara REDSHANK. tionships. These names, however, having found their way into the literature of the subject, cannot be wholly disregarded.
Geographical Distribution.-Sandpipers are amongst the most cosmopolitan of birds, many of them being found in almost every quarter of the globe. Thus the dunling (Tringa alpina), locally known as stint and ox-bird, the commonest sandpiper which is found in this country, ranges from Iceland and the Faroe Islands throughout Europe far into Africa, where it spends the winter; from Siberia in Asia to India and China (where also it is a winter visitor); and in North America from California to the West Indies; it sojourns also in Greenland.
The curlew sandpiper (Tringa subarquata), which visits us in spring and autumn, often in considerable flocks at the latter season, is even a greater wanderer than the dunlin; for although it has not yet been met with quite so far north, that is, in Iceland, Greenland, or Spitzbergen, it is found from Archangel throughout Europe and Africa down to Cape Colony; throughout the Indian region, Ceylon, the Andamans, Java, Australia, and Tasmania, and on the American continent has been found as far to the south as East Patagonia.
Species Breeding in Great Britain. - The sandpipers which breed in the British Islands are comparatively few in number.
They are the greenshank, redshank, ruff, and reeve (formerly; see Ruff), common sandpiper, purple sandpiper (probably), dunling, and red-necked phalarope.
Distinguishing Characters. Greenshank (Totanus glottis). - Entire length, 12 inches; bill, somewhat recurved, 2; wing, 7; tarsus, 2.25. General colour, in summer, SANDPIPER grey mottled with black; rump, white; wings, black; the shaft of the first primary white; chin, throat, and breast, white, longitudinally streaked with black; belly, pure white; bill, slate-colour; legs and toes, pale green. In winter all trace of black disappears from the upper portion of the plumage, and the whole of the under parts, from chin to vent, are pure white.
Redshank (Totanus calidris). Entire length, II inches; bill, 16; wing, 6'5; tarsus, 175; bare part of tibia, 9. General colour, in summer, above, hair-brown, transversely barred with a darker shade; below, white, streaked longitudinally with dark brown; tail, white, barred with dark brown; bill, horn-colour, orange at base; legs and toes. orange. In winter the plumage is more or less of a uniform grey above, throat dusky, under parts pure white; legs and toes paler than in summer. The birds of the year are intermediate in colour between the summer and winter plumages of their parents. [See RUFF.] Common Sandpiper (Totanus hypoleucus). Entire length, 7.5 inches; bill, 1; wing, 425; tarsus, 9. General colour, above, bronze; throat, longitudinally streaked with hair-brown; breast and belly, pure white; bill, horn-colour, the base fleshcolour; legs and toes, greyish-green. Although a summer visitor to the British Islands, has occasionally been met with during the winter months.
Purple Sandpiper (Tringa maritima).- Entire length, 850 inches; bill, 14; wing, 5'3; tarsus, I inch. The dorsal plumage is purple only in winter. In summer it is variegated with black, brown, and buff, the breast at the same season being spotted.
The legs and toes at all seasons are of a SANDPIPER. yellowish-clay colour. The colour of the legs (which are very short) will distinguish this bird at all times from any of its congeners. It is exclusively a shore bird, partial to a rocky coast, and is seldom or never found inland.
Dunling (Tringa alpina).-Entire length, 8 inches; bill, male, 13; female, 15; wing, 45; tarsus, 1. General colour, in summer, head, back, and wing-coverts mottled with various shades of brown, black, and rufous; on the belly a patch of black. In winter the dorsal plumage is, more or less, light brown DUNLIN. or grey; the whole of the under parts pure white. Young birds, in autumn, have the breast and flanks spotted with black. Bill, legs, and toes, at all seasons, black.
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus hyperboreus). - Entire length, 7 inches; bill, 8; wing, 45; tarsus, 8. General colour, in summer, black and grey above; on the throat and neck a patch of bright chestnut; under parts pure white. In winter the rufous colour on the neck disappears, the dorsal plumage becomes much lighter, and the whole of the under parts, from chin to vent, are pure white. The bill is much more slender and pointed than in the grey phalarope. The feet are lobed. This little bird nests regularly in Scotland and the Hebrides, in Shetland, formerly in Orkney, as well as on the west coast of Ireland (Williams, Irish Naturalist, 1903, p. 41).
It visits England in autumn on its way southwards for the winter.
Periodical Migrants. In addition to the above-named species, we have as passing visitors in spring and autumn, on their way to and from their breeding haunts, the dusky redshank, green sandpiper, wood sandpiper, knot, curlew sandpiper, little stint, Temminck's stint, sanderling, and grey phalarope.
Distinguishing Characters. Dusky Redshank (Totanus fuscus). - Entire length, 12.5 inches; bill, 23; wing, 675; tarsus, 2°25; bare part of tibia, 15. General colour, in summer, sooty black, with a few of the feathers margined and spotted with white; belly and rump, more or less white; tail, closely barred; bill, horn-colour, the base orange; legs and toes, vinous. In winter the plumage above is more or less uniformly grey, the throat faintly spotted, and the breast and belly pure white. Legs and toes, lemon-colour. Birds of the year have the upper portion of the plumage sooty brown, minutely freckled with white; the whole of the under parts, from chin to vent, white, closely freckled with light ash. The tarsus and tibia are much longer than in the common redshank, and the bill is not only much longer, but also more attenuated towards the extremity, and the upper mandible curves downwards at the tip. Green Sandpiper (Totanus ochropus).- Entire length, 9.5 inches; bill, 12; wing, 55; tarsus, 125; bare part of tibia, 7 inches. General colour, above, greenishbrown. in summer minutely freckled with white, in winter almost uniform; below, throat white, longitudinally streaked with dark brown; breast and belly, white; rump, white; tail, with outer feathers, white, centre feathers broadly barred with black; bill, slate colour; legs and toes, greyish-green.
This bird, which is a spring and autumn migrant, has a very peculiar musky odour, akin to that of the petrels.
Wood Sandpiper (Totanus glareola).- Entire length, 9 inches; bill, I inch; wing, 5 inches; tarsus, 14; bare part of tibia, 8.
General colour, similar to the last-named, from which it differs in having a shorter bill and longer legs; all the feathers in the tail barred, and the shaft of the first primary white. In the green sandpiper all the quills are black. This is a spring and autumn migrant.
Knot (Tringa length, 10 inches; bill, 12; wing, 65; tarsus, II.
General colour, chestnut in summer and grey and white in winter, like the curlew sandpiper and godwits at the same seasons, except that the rump is variegated, and not white. In summer the legs and toes are olive, the soles of the feet yellow; in winter they are entirely black. It visits England in large flocks in May and September.
Curlew Sandpiper (Tringa subarquata). -Entire length, 825 inches; bill, 15; wing, 5; tarsus, 12. General colour, in summer, chestnut, variegated above with black, below with white; bill, black, slightly curved downwards like that of a curlew; legs and toes, black. In winter the general colour above is grey and buff; the rump, white; under parts, pure white. Young birds, in autumn, have a tinge of buff on the breast, as remarked in the case of the godwits. Seen in flocks during the spring and autumn migration.
Little Stint (Tringa minuta). Entire length, 6 inches; bill, 8; wing, 3.75; tarsus, 9. Resembles a miniature dunling, except that there is never any black on the under parts. In summer the neck and breast are [SANDPIPER spotted with rufous, and the dorsal plumage has a large admixture of the same colour.
In winter the spots on the neck and breast disappear, and the dorsal plumage becomes considerably lighter in colour. Bill, legs, and toes at all seasons black. Seen in spring and autumn chiefly on the coast in small parties.
Temminck's Stint (Tringa temminckii). -Entire length, 5.75 inches; bill, '6; wing. a 375; tarsus, 6. Resembles a miniature common sandpiper, and may be distinguished from the little stint by its shorter and more slender bill, shorter legs (which are greyish-green instead of black), by its white outer tail feathers, and by having the shaft of only the first primary white, whereas in the little stint all the shafts are white. Found inland by the riverside and marsh dykes in May and September.
Sanderling (Calidris arenaria). Entire length, 8 inches; bill, 9; wing, 5 inches; tarsus, I inch. General colour, in summer, reddish-brown, black, and grey above; chin and breast, ditto; from breast downwards, pure white. In winter, grey and white above; from chin to vent, pure white; bill, legs, and toes, black. Bill as in the sandpipers. Toes, three, as in the plovers. A shore bird, often in large flocks.
Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius). - Entire length, 8 inches; bill, 1; wing, 5; tarsus, 8. General colour, in summer, brown, white, and rufous above; from chin to vent, chestnut. In winter, grey and white above; the under parts pure white.
Bill very flat. Feet lobed like a coot. This bird is seldom met with in the British Islands in its summer dress. It visits us regularly in autumn (September November), by which time it has acquired its winter plumage, and in some years is very numerous. to Occasional Visitors. - The sandpipers which remain to be considered are those which make their appearance as rare and accidental visitors, usually during the period of the autumnal migration. Of these may be mentioned the Broadbilled sandpiper (Tringa platyrhyncha), which breeds in Lapland, Finland, Norway, and the tundras of European Russia, and the following American species: Yellowshank, Solitary sandpiper, Bartram's sandpiper, Buffbreasted sandpiper, Spotted sandpiper, Pectoral sandpiper, Bonaparte's sandpiper, and Wilson's American Stint, Tringa pusilla of Wilson (1812), Tringa minutilla of Vieillot (1819).
It is to be observed that in this article attention is of necessity confined to those sandpipers which are known as residents or visitors to the British Islands. The species to be met with in other parts of the world SCHOOL GAMES] are far too numerous to be dealt with here, essential to success in carrying the ball however briefly.
J. E. HARTING.
SCHOOL GAMES.-The following article deals only with those games which, being peculiar to certain of the great public schools, are not noticed elsewhere in this work. The publishers wish to thank the captains of the schools mentioned for their assistance in supplying the necessary information:- Hailes at Edinburgh Academy.
Eton Football.
The Field Game.
The Wall Game.
Harrow Football.
Winchester Football.
THE GAME OF HAILES.-The game of hailes has been played at Edinburgh Academy since the early years of the last century, when the school came into existence. Formerly a similar game was played at the Royal High School of Edinburgh, but there the game is believed to have died out shortly after it came to be played at the Academy.
The game is played by the boys in the "yards," or open spaces surrounding the school during the play-hour and the intervals between the classes.
In many respects the game is similar to that of football, under "Rugby" rules; instead, however, of playing between, and scoring by "goals," the game takes place between "hailes." The "hailes" consist of the walls forming the boundaries at either end of the "yards," and the side which drives the ball against its opponents' boundary in the manner required by the rules of the game is said to gain a "haile." or The outstanding peculiarity of the game is that each player carries a "clacken" 1 wooden bat; the clacken is used for carrying the ball, and also for raising it from the ground, and to a greater or less extent in dribbling. It consists of a piece of wood about 18 inches long, and has a head about 4 inches wide and inch thick; just short of the head the bat is thinned down to about 4 inch from back to front, and again the head is thinned off towards the tip to make it easier to raise the ball from the ground.
The thinned neck of the clacken is known as the "spring," and a good spring is 1 In general appearance the "clacken" is very like the shorter rounder-headed form of "fivesbat"-not the "Rugby" form-but differs from it in being thinned away at the tip to assist in lifting the ball from the ground, as explained above. poised on the clacken. The ball is somewhat larger than a lawn-tennis ball, made of india-rubber, and collapsible, to prevent it bursting if trodden upon.
The game can be played with any numbers; we have seen as many as twenty to twenty-five boys a side, and have also seen excellent games with eight or twelve a side; the smaller the numbers, the faster, of course, is the game.
Captains of teams are selected, who pick sides and arrange their "forwards" and "backs" to the best advantage, and, the game being started, the great endeavour of each side is to carry or dribble the ball through their opponents towards the "haile," against which the ball must be dashed in order to score a "haile."
No attempt, so far as we know, was made to codify the rules of the game until the year 1891, when certain former pupils of the school presented a silver clacken as a trophy to be played for annually by the schoolboys, and at the same time drew up a set of rules to regulate the play in the competitions for this trophy. These rules made certain unimportant modifications in the game, but the main object in view while formulating them was to preserve the game as nearly as possible in the same condition as it had been in since it was first played; it must, however, be borne in mind that many formalities had to be enforced which were unnecessary-and, as a matter of fact, were never observed in the ordinary play in the "yards."
Amongst these rules the following are the most important :- The game shall be started by the teams lining up ten yards apart, and the ball being thrown between them in the centre of the “ yards." The game shall be re-started in the same way after a "haile" has been scored.
A haile can only be scored from within 5 yards of the hailes wall, and the ball must either be kicked, thrown from the clacken, or rebound direct from one of the attacking side against it.
The ball shall be considered in touch when it passes beyond or over any of the boundaries of the "yards," and shall then be thrown out at right angles to the touchline.
If the ball be not thrown out straight, a maul shall be formed at IO yards from where the ball entered touch, parallel with the "hailes" line.
A maul shall be formed by the players on each side, lining up 5 yards apart, when the ball shall be thrown between them.
If any player touch the ball when offside, a maul shall be formed where the ball was last played. A player shall be offside when the ball has been last kicked or touched by one of his own side between himself and his own "hailes" line. ،، A player may not lift the ball off the ground with his hand, but he may catch it before it spots" or on the bound, or he may lift it with his clacken. Having thus obtained the ball, he must, if it was caught in the hand, at once put it on his clacken.
A player may at any time pass the ball with his hand.
A player may not hold the ball on his clacken with his hand, nor take it into his hand to pass an opponent.
A player running with the ball on his clacken may throw it off his clacken over or past an opponent and then catch it in his hand, but he must immediately replace it on his clacken.
Upon a player deliberately holding or tripping an opponent, whether running with the ball or not, a free hit shall be given to his opponents.
A free hit is taken by one of the players throwing the ball in the air, and, as it descends, striking it with the edge of his clacken towards the opponents' " hailes " line.
With the above exception there shall be no "slogging" or hard-hitting.
ETON FOOTBALL. - Field Game.
The houses play in groups, amalgamating their senior and junior games. There are competitions on the tie system for lower boy house cup and house challenge cup. Each house has football colours, but it is only in the case of the two houses which meet in the final tie that to all the members of the team colours are given. In the houses which have fallen out earlier in the cup ties, colours are given to a number more or less in proportion to the success of the house in the ties. No house, however, can adopt colours until it has formally played some other house, selected by the captain of the boats, which possesses colours, and it is at the discretion of the Captain of the Boats to give the colours after the match has been played. Matches between houses are also played, although no competition is held, the best eleven players who have not got their House colours being chosen. These matches are known as "Sine" matches (Der.: sine coloribus=without colours). “ The field game is played on grounds of varying sizes, the standard size being, according to some authorities, 130 yards by 90 yards. School field " measures 143 yards by 97 yards. The ball is about half the size of an Association ball. The goal is 7 feet by II feet. The game lasts an hour, and ends are changed at half time. 66 66 [SCHOOL GAMES In matches the number of players on each side is eleven. Each side consists of the "bully," outsides, and behinds, but all except the behinds are commonly spoken of as "the bully." The "bully" proper comprises only those who form down compactly with the ball among them when the game is re-started after the ball has been out or play has been stopped under some rule requiring a "bully" to be held. The bully is formed of four players, post, backbehind is up post, and two side posts. Immediately skilful forward on the side. The other flying man," usually the most three forwards, called "corners," stand two on one side of the bully, one on the other.
The behinds" are behind" and "goals." A bully is formed "short" and "long in the following manner: post places his arms round the necks of the two side posts..
All three players bend down, and the opposing side, formed up in the same manner, lean over. The side with its heads lowered is said to have "downs," and "downs" are taken alternately by either side. Back-up post supports post, and is generally the heaviest man on the side. A "corner then puts the ball into the bully between the feet of his post, and the struggle begins. As a rule it is not long before the ball emerges from the bully, and then any forward who can get at the ball dribbles it down the field, backed up by the forwards on his side, each intent to take it on should the other overrun or be deprived of it. Passing is impossible, as a forward in advance of the ball is "sneaking," and should he touch the ball the penalty is a kick-off, i.e., a free kick. There is no 66 دو sneaking" in the bully. A forward not with the mass of the players is "cornering," and, should the ball come to him, he may not touch it under pain of a bully being formed at the place where he touches it.
When a behind gets the ball, he should, as a rule, kick hard and high, especially high, in order that his forwards may charge under the ball. When the ball goes "out" (i.e., over the side-line), a bully is formed 20 yards from the line opposite the point at which the ball crossed the line.
When the attacking side get near their opponents' goal-line, they should shoot at goal at once if the position is favourable, but if they are nearer to the side line than to goal they should dribble the ball slowly towards goal, close to the goal-line. If they get near to goal by this means, of course, the chances are in favour of a successful shot, and it is to the interest of the defending side to prevent this, but great care is necessary in attempting to take the ball from the attacking side. For if one of the attack- SCHOOL GAMES] ing side, while in contact with one of the defenders who is in front of the goal-line, kicks the ball behind the goal line, or if it goes behind off a defender or off an attacking player when kicked into him by a defender, and the first player who crosses the goal line and touches the ball with the hand is one of the attacking side, a rouge is scored. If in any of these cases the first to cross the goal line and touch the ball is one of the defending side, or if the 66 دو tactics of the Captain, remain a short distance away to guard against contingencies. The remainder run in, in line, to the middle of the bully from a distance of several paces, each man clasping the man in front of him. If they succeed in forcing the ball through goal the rouge is cancelled and a goal is scored. If they fail, the rouge remains to their credit. Three rouges are equal to one goal. When a goal is scored the ball is kicked off from the centre of the ETON FOOTBALL. THE WALL GAME. attack kicks it "cool" behind, i.e., without being charged, a kick off is taken, subject, however, to the exception that if the ball has been kicked behind by, or goes behind off, one of the defending side a bully is held at the spot where he kicked it. When a rouge is scored, a bully is formed in the mouth of the goal, a yard in front of the goal line.
The defence form down in much the same manner as for an ordinary bully, but all the side, except two, back up the post and side posts. These two are to be ready to take the ball away should it become loose or to touch it should it cross the goal line without going through goal. The ball is placed between the feet of the defending post.
The side posts on the attacking side form down as usual, generally with one other player to back each of them up; three of the attacking side, or less, according to the ground by the side against whom the score has been made. are Wall Game. This game is mainly kept up by the Oppidans v. Collegers match on St. Andrew's Day. There are two Keepers, a Colleger and an Oppidan, of mixed wall, and a Colleger and an Oppidan wall eleven. "Mixed" or "school" wall colours generally given to six of the winning team and five of the losers. Collegers, as a rule, play this game from their first Michaelmas half or term, while no Oppidan is likely to have a chance of playing until he has shown considerable proficiency in the field game, or possesses bulk and strength such as clearly qualify him for the position of "wall." The Collegers have thus the advantage of greater experience to counterbalance the advantage possessed by the Oppidans, in the larger number from whom their team can be selected.
IIO The wall game is played on a piece of ground 115 yards long, and varying in width from 8 to 4 yards, bounded on one side by a wall II feet high, on the other by a furrow, and at one end by another wall, at the other by a furrow. In the end or garden wall, 20 yards from the angle of the two walls, there is a door 7 feet by 3 feet, which forms one goal. Parallel to this end wall, and at a distance of 12 yards from it, is a white line, which meets the side wall. The piece of ground thus cut off is good calx, and a similar line IO yards from the other end marks off bad calx. Part of the lower 7 feet of the trunk of an elm tree standing 28 yards from the side wall and 6 yards behind the furrow constitutes the goal at the "bad calx" end. Beyond the furrow is open field, but ropes are placed in this parallel to the furrow, and about 25 yards from it on the occasion of the [SCHOOL GAMES football, the first object is to score goals, but there are two special difficulties in attaining this object. The goals are very small, and they lie outside the immediate field of play, for as soon as the ball has crossed the side furrow it cannot be kicked.
The goal must therefore be attacked by secondary means, and for this purpose it is necessary to get the ball into calx. The quickest way of gaining ground is to kick the ball out that is, across the furrow, in the direction of the opponents' calx.
When the ball has been kicked out, the next bully is formed opposite the point at which the ball stops, is kicked, or reaches the ropes, if the ropes are there. It follows that the deadliest of sins is to kick the ball "in," as this usually enables one of the opposing behinds to make a deliberate and effective kick out.
If the side defending good calx is heavy, ← frec 180 1 700 door bad 300 108 345 23 good 36'0" Wall Height 10'0" PLAN OF GROUND FOR WALL GAME.
Collegers v. Oppidans match. The ball is of the same size and shape as that used in the field game, though generally rather stronger. 66 There are eleven players on each sidethree "walls," two seconds," three "outsides," and three "behinds." The game is begun by a bully at a point near the middle, where an iron ladder, removed for the occasion, affords the means of crossing the wall. Three players on each side form behind each other along the wall, the sides taking turns to form under and over. These players are the "walls": they wear thick fustian trousers and "wall sacks," i.e., jerseys padded with sacking, while their heads are protected by padded caps with ear-flaps. Two more players on each side, known as seconds," and also protected by wall-caps and strong knickerbockers, form alongside the walls in the bully; then between the bully and the side furrow come the outsides, "third," "fourth," and "line." A yard or so behind the bully is "flying man," close to the wall; a few yards further back is long behind, close to the furrow; still further back is "goal," close to the wall. 66 In this game, as in every other game of 44.0120 " 2'10" x 7.0" they will endeavour to keep the ball in the bully, as the other side has the advantage of right shoulder to wall and right foot to kick out (hence good calx). Dribbling is practically impossible, as the space is so narrow, and the players try to rush through or kick out. Supposing that the bully is in calx, the object of the attacking side is to get a shy, i.e., to raise the ball off the ground between the foot and the wall and touch it with the hand, facing the goal which they are attacking. In calx the bully is formed somewhat differently. Three lines drawn at right angles to the wall about 6 inches apart. Along the middle line the umpire rolls the ball, while no player's foot may cross the outside lines. are The attacking side have a getter to raise the ball, a toucher to touch it, and a furker, who stands with his back to the bully and tries to push or draw the ball out with his leg along the wall. The defenders have a stopper, whose duty is to prevent the ball being raised from the ground, and a furker to get it out to one of the behinds whose duty is in good calx to kick the ball out of calx, in bad calx to kick it behind the line and touch it.
As soon as the ball is in, the whole bully SCHOOL GAMES ] sets to work. If the getting side is fortunate, there is presently a cry of "got it!" If the umpire gives a shy, the defenders run out to defend the goal while the ball is thrown with the hand from within the furrow at the goal. In the Collegers v.
Oppidans match, a goal has never been scored from a kick, very seldom from a shy, as only three have been bossed or thrown.
If the ball goes behind in bad calx, and is touched by the attacking side, a bully is formed one yard from the back line; if it is touched by the defenders, it is kicked off.
HARROW FOOTBALL. - The game is played with eleven a side in house matches, school matches and second elevens, as the meetings in friendly rivalry between the different houses on whole school-day afternoons are called, but in house games the number of players depends on the number of boys in the house. Most houses have thirty-nine boys, but the head master's and the various small houses, which compose one house for game purposes, contain from sixty to eighty boys, so the number of players in house games varies between eleven a side as the minimum up to as many as thirty as the maximum. The ball is of a peculiar shape, with two flat sides joined together by a round piece of leather throughout the centre, thus resembling a cheese; consequently it is very difficult to kick straight or dribble with, and more suited to a heavy than to a light ground. It is very hard indeed for the dribbler to keep it under perfect control, as the variable size of the ball and the uneven nature of its sides give it a tendency to break off in unexpected directions, a tendency one does not meet with so frequently with the Association or Rugby Union ball. The positions of the players are as follows. No goalkeeper being required, there is one full back and one half-back, but generally two half-backs are played, unless the full and half-back thought strong enough to stand alone; two are placed on either "side," as the wings are called, and the rest play in the centre.
The two "sides " are called top" and "bottom" side, the names, no doubt, being due to the slope of the ground on which the matches used to be played. دو 66 are The peculiar features of the Harrow game are giving yards," "catching the ball," or "taking yards," as it is called, the "following up one behind the other, the almost entire absence of penalties for infringing the rules, the "free kick," given to any one who has got "yards," and the "offside rule."
Taking these points in order, we can describe "giving yards as the act of giving دو a catch to one of his own side by a dribbler when he thinks he is near enough to his enemy's base for the player to whom he gives yards to secure a base, i.e., kick the ball through the poles at any height from the ground. This is by no means easy, and the house which is best at giving yards is generally the most difficult to beat. It is a fine sight to see a good player after a brilliant run, suddenly stop in the middle of his career, turn round, and, forgetful of self, "give yards" to another, who thus gets the honour of securing the base. The player who catches the ball must shout out "three yards" or "yards" to claim his right to a free kick, the three yards being defined as the utmost extent to which he can go in three running strides; if a player is thought to have run too far, his opponents may make him " step his yards," and he will then have to go back to the place where he took "yards" and jump to the point from which he kicked the ball in three strides, and if he fail in this the base is disallowed.
If a player does not shout out "yards" on having a catch, he may have the ball knocked out of his hands by his opponents.
No player may claim yards unless the ball has come a catch to him from any point below the knee of the player who "gave yards." 66 In former days all the forwards had to be most careful in "following up" the player on the ball; hence the chorus of the great school football song Follow up, follow up, follow up!" and a beautiful sight it was to see the various forwards supporting each other; but nowadays passing has come in, as so many Harrow boys, before they come to Harrow, have played the Association Game at their private school, and so the old combined play is not so strong as it once was. Still, when found, it is undoubtedly most effective. The offside rule is very strictly enforced in school and house matches, and is the same as in Rugby Union-that is to say, a player is offside and may not touch the ball, unless he is nearer to his own base than the player who touched the ball last unless one of his opponents has touched it. As there are no penalties for violating rules, a player if offside is merely shouted at by the umpires, and from very shame stops at once. But on very few occasions the umpires have ordered a player off the field for repeated unfair play.
If a player gets yards within jumping distance of the base; he may just jump through the base, instead of kicking the ball.
If the ball goes out of play at the sides. it may be thrown in to any distance by one of the side that did not kick it out. Should the umpire be unable to decide to which side IJ2 the throw belongs, he throws the ball in himself perfectly straight. If the ball goes out behind the base line, it may be kicked out by the defending side, if one of the opposite side sent it out, all being " on side" at once; but if one of the defending side sent it behind, it may be thrown in quite straight by one of the attacking side, and when it goes out near the base, heading is naturally resorted to, to put the ball through.
WINCHESTER FOOTBALL. - The football played by the school is altogether peculiar to Winchester. The ground, strictly speaking, is 25 yards wide by 80 long, and the goal is the whole end of this piece of ground. Two special rules distinguish the game from probably every other form of football which is played, (I) the ball must not be dribbled, i.c., a player may kick it gently once and back it up, but if he is to take it down the ground, he must kick it as hard as in the umpire's opinion he can kick it; (2) if the ball comes to a player off one of the opposing side and is clearly on the bound, the player may kick it as high as he likes, otherwise he must kick it so that it does not rise above five feet from the ground. The following are some of the other more noticeable rules of the game: (1) If a player catch the ball off one of the other side, he must punt it ("kick off"), or, if the other side try to collar him, he may run, but only so long as they pursue him; (2) the ordinary rules as to off-side prevail as well as a further rule forbidding tag," i.e., forbidding a player to take on the ball when it is kicked forward, even if he himself comes from behind the player who kicked it; (3) the scrimmage ("hot") is formed in a peculiar manner; the ups of the two sides face each other arranged in rows of three, then as soon as the ball is put into the "hot," they lower their heads so as to receive their opponents' right shoulders upon their own right shoulders, and, seated upon the shoulders of their own supporters, try to force the ball through the ranks of the opposing side.
The boundaries of the narrow ground need some description; there are at the sides two ropes strained tight through posts at the height of three feet from the ground, and running the whole length of the field of play; again, outside these ropes, and parallel to them, at about one yard's distance, netting ("canvas") is stretched by means of iron-work, to a height of eight feet; the ends of the field of play are marked by lines cut in the ground ("worms"). The canvas," which replaced two rows of spectators, who, until 1868, served to keep the ball in play, marks the extreme edge of the ground, and the ball is necessarily out of ،، دو [ SCHOOL GAMES play when it passes over the canvas; the space between ropes and canvas" is theoretically not a part of the field of play, but practically is the most important part of it, for, as a goal kicked out of this space does not count and a catch caught out of it cannot be "kicked off," the defending side invariably try to get the ball into this space, while the attacking side try to keep the ball out of it. A goal is scored whenever the ball passes over "worms," not having been kicked out of ropes nor having been touched (a point of similarity with the Rugby game) by any of the defending side.
There are a vast number of rules and customs regulating the many parts of this intricate game. A match lasts one hour; as the game is played at present, about ten to fifteen goals are generally scored in a XV. and XV. match, nearly twice as many in a VI. and VI. match, but on the other hand a score of love all has occurred in the larger game. 66 It is interesting to note that there is clear evidence that football was played by the college as early as the year 1550, and that the game was originally played on a straight road (hence the narrowness of the ground), with a steep grass bank on either side (hence canvas"), and a railing running parallel to these two banks and quite close to them (hence "ropes"). No doubt it has been developed in certain directions from the same general type of game (that in which catching and carrying the ball was allowed) from which Rugby School. founded in 1567, afterwards developed its well-known form of football. But in practice the game is as different from Rugby football as it is from every other form of football which is played.
SEA-FISHING. - Fishing in the sea for sport, first mentioned by James Sanders ir The Compleat Fisherman (1724), has made great progress even during the twelve years that have passed since the first edition of this work was published. For one thing, the rod is in even more general use than it was then, and there is some indication of a less clumsy type of rod being adopted, though for the most part, it must be confessed, sea-anglers continue to use for small fish a rod that would hold a tarpon. The light tackle movement has, however, spread from Santa Catalina Island [see TUNA], and is finding an increasing number of adherents in other seas. New resorts have been opened up even at home, such as Ballycotton, in the south of Ireland, where enthusiasts stay each year for the sport with skate and halibut, and the artistic development of sea-angling has extended to South Africa and other portions of the British SEA-FISHING] Empire. The sport of catching immense salmon, up to 70 lb. weight, in the sea has become popular off far Vancouver, in the mouth of the Campbell River, though, as these monsters will not take a fly, a spoon must be used. Off Cape Breton it has within the past two or three years been recognised that grand sport will one of these days be had with the great tuna (q.v.) which frequent the coast in summer. In Indian seas there are many opportunities with rod and line, notably in the capture of seer up to 100 lb., bahmin and begti up to 80 lb., the rock cod and many other great fishes, most of which take a live bait, fish or prawn, in the estuaries of the Bombay and Madras coasts. Australian sea-anglers catch schnapper in deep water, grouper from the rocks, and black bream and flathead in the harbours and creeks, while in Northern Queensland there is the giant perch of the Fitzroy and other estuaries. The West Indies and Gulf of Mexico offer tarpon, amberjack, kingfish, barracouta, and sharks, and, lastly, in South Africa there is a variety of good fishing, of which something is said later.
The use of the sea-rod is, in the Mediterranean at any rate, of great antiquity, and readers of Theocritus will have no difficulty in recalling the allusion to spinning the baits with the rod in the fisherman's story of his dream. Yet its introduction to our seas, at any rate for sport, was comparatively recent, and in the first London edition of his since classic "Sea-fisherman" (1868), the late J. C. Wilcocks dealt almost exclusively with the hand-line. Since then, however, "John Bickerdyke and others have popularised the rod in salt water, and to its present vogue the propaganda of the British Sea Anglers' Society must also have contributed not a little. That useful institution, which has its headquarters at 4 Fetter Lane, London, is the official organisation of the sport in this country, and exchanges courtesies with the famous Tuna Club of Santa Catalina. دو Of late years, moreover, amateur seafishermen have shown a desirable tendency to specialise in their tackle, baits, and methods generally. They do not nowadays, as they did ten or fifteen years ago, use any tackle and any bait on the off-chance of catching some fish or other, but they set out, rather after the manner of the angler in fresh water, with the object of trying to capture a particular kind of fish, and choose their tackle and bait accordingly. This, involving, as it does, an intimate study of the habits and tastes of the particular fish sought for, is the highest form of fishing.
So long as such methods are followed, seafishing has as much claim to be regarded as VOL. IV THE TATE LIBRARY, BRIXTON, S.W. an art as analogous styles practised in river or lake.
Nothing is perhaps a surer symptom of the growing popularity of sea-fishing for sport than the increasing number of successful festivals, or competitions, held at various seaside resorts during the autumn months, from Cornwall to Yorkshire. The British Sea Anglers have long held their annual competition at Deal, but this, once the only prominent meeting of its kind, is now overshadowed by monster gatherings at Hastings, Folkestone, Weymouth, and other watering-places. Valuable prizes are competed for by enthusiasts of both sexes and all ages, and the towns usually lend material support in the shape of cups and other trophies by way of encouraging a fashion which they no doubt regard as an excellent advertisement of their attractions.
Perhaps the greatest charm of sea-fishing, particularly for the sportsman of limited means, lies in its absolute freedom from all the inland restrictions of private ownership, close times, and licences. Such legal restrictions as are in force on the foreshore, including royal ownership in whales, sturgeons, and wrecks, cannot be said to interfere with his liberty. Yet another attraction to the sea-fisherman is the fact of the majority of the fish he catches being excellent for the table. Instead of a slimy mess of roach and bream, he brings home cod, whiting, or plaice. Not often, it is true, will he secure such prizes for the epicure as a sole or red mullet, but, on the other hand, while their capture with rod and line is by no means unrecorded, only a few kinds, like the wrasses and dogfish, are useless for food.
Other articles in this work deal with the tarpon, tuna, and other big game of the sea. So far as our coasts are concerned, the chief game fishes, if the distinction be allowed in virtue of the sport they give, are the bass, pollack, coalfish, grey mullet, and mackerel, and the sea-angler also enjoys milder sport with bream, cod, whiting, flatfish, conger, John Dory, gurnard, and a few others. Sharks, which are commoner round the shores of Britain than many folks imagine, are generally regarded as vermin, though the larger dogfish (which are only small species of the shark tribe) are purposely angled for at Herne Bay, Filey, and a few other resorts. A separate article is devoted to the capture of larger sharks elsewhere.
A brief summary of information on the angler's fish in British seas is now given.
The remarks in square brackets refer to allied kinds esteemed for sport in other seas.
The fish are given alphabetically.
Bass (Labrax). - The majority of bass are caught close inshore, or even in estuaries and rivers, and there are few fish that can be taken by so great a variety of baits and methods. As a general rule, when they are playing off rocky headlands, artificial flies and spinners succeed best. When, again, they are foraging for offal along the shore, heavier tackle is used with a bait of herring, pilchard, or ray's liver. Lastly, when they are chasing the small fry into estuaries, there is no bait like a living sand-eel.
Though found in Scotch waters, it is a fact that, being a fish of southern origin, the bass does not occur, in numbers that make it worth individual attention on the part of the angler, any great distance north of a line drawn through the Wash and the Menai Strait.
As some indication of the remarkable variety of methods and baits in use for bass, I give those which succeed best at most of its haunts (all of which I have visited) within the district named, i.e., from the coast of Norfolk to that of Carnarvon :- Sheringham, hermit-crab; Aldeburgh, phantom minnow; Felixstowe, ragworm; Clacton (night fishing), herring; Herne Bay, spinning baits; Margate, flies and spinners; Ramsgate, herring; Folkestone and Hastings, herring; Eastbourne, rubber eels; Brighton, herring; Newhaven, live prawn; Shoreham, sand-eel; Littlehampton, green crab (or, in the Arun, a live roach); Selsey, prawn; Swanage, shrimp; Weymouth, mackerel, shrimp, or green crab; Lyme Regis, ragworm or prawn; Seaton, squid or artificial baits; Exmouth and