Turbot FISHERY. Turbot grows to a large size, some of them weighing from 23 to 30 pounds. They are taken chiefly off the north coast of England, and others off the Dutch coast. The large turbot (as well as several other kinds of flat fish) are taken by the hook and line, for they lie in deep water; the method of taking them in wears or flaked nets being very precarious. When the fishermen go out to fish, each person is provided with three lines, which are coiled on a flat oblong piece of wicker work; the hooks being baited, and placed regularly in the centre of the coil. Each line is furnished with 14 score of hooks, at the distance of six feet two inches from each other. The hooks are fastened to the lines upon snoods of twisted horse hair 27 inches in length. When fishing, there are always three men in each cople, and consequently nine of these lines are fastened together, and used in one line, extending in length near three miles, and furnished with 2520 hooks. An anchor and a buoy are fixed at the first end of the line, and one more of each at the end of each man's lines; in all four anchors, which are common perforated stones, and four buoys made of leather or cork. The line is always laid across the current. The tides of flood and ebb continue an equal time upon our coast, and, when undisturbed by winds, run each way about six hours; they are so rapid that the fishermen can only shoot and haul their lines at the turn of tide, and therefore the lines always remain upon the ground about six hours; during which time the mysine glutinosa of Linnaeus will frequently penetrate the fish that are on the hooks, and entirely devour them, leaving only the skin and bones. The same rapidity of tides prevents their using hand lines; and therefore two of the people commonly wrap themselves in the sail, and sleep while the other keeps a strict look-out, for fear of being run down by ships, and to observe the weather. For storms often rise so suddenly, that it is with extreme difficulty they can sometimes escape to the shore, leaving their lines behind.
Besides the cople, the fishermen have also a five-men boat, which is 40 feet long and 15 broad, and 25 tons burden; it is so called, though navigated by six men and a boy, because one of the men is commonly hired to cook, &c. and does not share in the profits with the other five. This boat is decked at each end, but open in the middle, and has two large lug sails. All our able fishermen go in these boats to the herring fishery at Yarmouth in the latter end of September, and return about the middle of November. The boats are then laid up till the beginning of Lent, at which time
they go off in them to the edge of the Dogger, and other places to fish for turbot, cod, ling, skates, &c. They always take two coples on board; and when they come upon their ground, anchor the boat, throw out the coples, and fish in the same manner as those do who go from the shore in a cople: with this difference only, that here each man is provided with double the quantity of lines, and instead of waiting the return of the tide in the cople, return to their boat and bait their other lines; thus hauling one set and shooting another every turn of tide. They commonly run into harbour twice a-week to deliver their fish.
The best bait is fresh herring cut in pieces of a proper size; the five-men boats are always furnished with nets for taking them. Next to herrings are the lesser lampreys. The next baits in esteem are small haddocks cut in pieces, sand worms, and limpets, here called flidders; and when none of these can be had, they use bullock's liver. The hooks are two inches and a half long in the flank, and near an inch wide between the flank and the point. The line is made of small cording, and is always tanned before it is used.
Turbots are extremely delicate in their choice of baits; for if a piece of herring or haddock has been 12 hours out of the sea, and then used as bait, they will not touch it.