The various kinds of net fishing are too numerous to mention, but there are several of the Maldon fishermen who can be prevailed upon for a consideration to take a passenger or two for a day’s trawling, if he be not too particular as to the luxury of his accommodation. The known fish fauna of the Blackwater is a rich one, and the occurrence of almost any British species in this fine estuary is possible. Salmon and Salmon Trout are frequently taken. Mr. R. H. Eve has Speckled Trout that weighed 7lbs., which was caught near Beeleigh Mill, and smaller ones have been taken on several occasions; large Skates and Rays frequently occur, and a Sturgeon, varying greatly in size, is taken almost every year. Coming to this “royal fish” reminds us to mention the whales, dolphins, porpoises, and other mammals that are recorded from this river, and of late years it has almost continuously been inhabited by one or more seals, that are frequently seen but fortunately not destroyed, although I cannot say this has not been attempted.

Phocoena Phocoena

Pliny, The Elder

We must not say more about the fishing, further than to remind our readers of how famous are the Essex rivers for their highly-prized, and now high-priced, native oysters. The Blackwater and Colne are noted breeding grounds, but their product is mostly in private hands until we get below Mersea, and the visitor is likely to have little further to do with them than to see the large fleet of Tollesbury, Mersea, and Brightlingsea boats at work on the Common ground, or sailing hither or thither at tide times. Oyster culture is an old and still famous industry. The elder Pliny tells us that it was Sergius Orata who “first conceived the idea of planting oysters in beds” on the Lucrine Lake, on the shore of which he built a palace, so as to be able to consume his favourite bivalves with convivial friends at all times and seasons, Some of these oysters, we are not told how, were brought from England’s shores. It was Sir Aston Cockayne who wrote (1669):

The old luxurious Romans vaunts did make
Of gustful oysters took in Lucrine Lake,
Your Essex better hath, and such perchance
As tempted Caesar first, to pass from France.

Large beds of oyster shells are invariably found with Roman remains in East-Essex. These shells, which the Roman gourmands have bequeathed to posterity, are mostly now at a depth of from four to six feet, showing such to have been the accretion of soil from the first centuries A.D. Another shell-fish which is particularly abundant and of fine quality along the foreshores of our river is the common periwinkle; it is picked off the mud by boys, and occasionally dredged. It is exported from Maldon to the value of many hundreds of pounds annually. Should the visitor be tempted to spend a day or two on a smack, either trawling or dredging, a most instructive and enjoyable occupation, he will probably be led to taste and like the flavour of the Blackwater whelk.

Osea Island: The Farm House. Looking North

Death creek is opposite to Stansgate, and at the mouth of this good fishing station. Spruling or handline fishing is the method most in vogue, using the common log or lugworm for bait; this fine fellow lives in the sandy mug along the shore, but is not easily dug by the amateur, although in many spots it is abundant; their local price is generally half-a-crown per quart. The best time for fishing is autumn and spring, but it is only for about two hours before and after low tide that it is possible to hold ground, the tide running too strong before and after; by spruling sufficient fish can often be caught; about two hours. These are mostly dabs, plaice, whiting, codling and the large-mouthed voracious little Father-lasher, locally called “Bull-Rout,” which often gives good sport, but is otherwise very little use; occasionally a Weaver, with its poisonous fin, or a Red Gurnard may be caught.

Red Gurnard

A more successful method of fishing is by hoop-netting, baiting with the small shore crab, but this is not permitted upon the ground of the Tollesbury and Mersea Oyster Fishery Co., which is well marked by the large beacons on each shore; the upper edge of the oyster ground is a very good spot for sport. Dabs, plaice and similar flatfish are known as market fish, scantlings and hoppers, according to size, the latter being the smallest; soles as soles, slips and tongues.

Spruling is best by night, especially in September and October for codling and whiting, and when lying quietly at anchor, possibly waiting for the tide to get slack enough to fish, we are sure to notice the tide leaving the mud, and then the drain heads, as they are called locally, make a noise, or like the hum of a distant railway train. This is always especially noticeable just as dusk.

Osea Island: The Farm House. Looking North.

Bass (Fish)

The variety of sport to be derived from sea-fishing is great, and its votaries will not need them to be particularised, while the amateur can learn best by following the instructions of their fellow-sportsmen. Bass are grequently caught up to 10 lbs. in weight, Mr. John Basham, senr., caught one weighing 16 lbs., and William Handley caught a 19lb. one in Upper Blacklow creek, Bradwell, about 1860. Grey Mullet almost as big, but they are very agile and wary, jumping like hares over a peternet when shooting they swim on the top of the water, and when present are sure to be seen in the sun jumping out and playing on the surface; when cooked, these little known long-nosed fish much resemble mackerel, but they are sweeter; a foolish prejudice exist against them because their bones are grass green. It seems almost impossible to hook the wily and soft-mouthed Mullet, but Basse, Garfish, and other summer species may be taken by drift lines. Eels, which are abundant, but not so large as they used to be, are taken in quantities, but generally by the professional by babbing; this is practised from a punt in shallow water, by threading a bunch of logworms on worsted and sinking this to the bottom on a short line, with a six to eight foot rod; anchor or moor the punt so that it does not sheer about with the tide, a bite is quickly felt as the eels tug very strongly, but to catch them all requires practice; flounders are often caught with the eels. Eel shearing or spearing on the mud, either whem walking on splatches or spearing on the mud, either when walking on splatches, flat boards tied on to the soles of your boots, or from a punt or boat, is seldom profitable to the amateur. Eel trawling with a very fine-meshed net, a most destructive operation, was first discovered by John Heard, of Tollesbury, when trawling for prawns on Mersea shore. To catch the eels it is necessary to have a tunnel in the trawl to prevent them coming back and escaping; they travel backwards.

To be continued.

For all addiction treatment and heroin addiction questions, call us at +44 (0) 207 100 7260