Notes on the Physical Conditions existing within the Line from Start Point to Portland

Abstract

During the trawling work of the past year within and around the bays on the south coast of Devon, my attention was drawn to the peculiar phenomena displayed by the tides and currents in Start Bay, and a subsequent endeavour to trace their connections and consequences led to a wider survey of the region within the line from Start to Portland. The bottom samples brought up by the trawl and lead afforded excellent opportunities of ascertaining the nature and distribution of the different soils, and thus of tracing out their changes during the seasons. My own observations, moreover, were supplemented by those of the friendly Brixham fishermen, who had many years’ experiences behind them. Their theories, it is true, were somewhat numerous and divergent, as becomes such an energetic and independent race, but the phenomena were described with a wonderful definiteness and unanimity. Knowledge of the bottom-soil—its changes through the month and year—and of the tidal phenomena is absolutely essential to the fisherman because his living depends upon it, so that one need not be surprised at, though appreciating, the great accuracy with which they can tell where they are and what they should catch in their trawls from a brief examination of the soil brought up by the lead.