When the sea sounds heavy with ground swells, or the waves murmur, or a dull, deep roar is heard around distant rocks, storms and gales may be expected. Rain comes soon when fish bite readily and appear near the surface of the water. Before thunderstorms they remain inactive. When the wind is in the east, the fish bite little or not at all. This applies to trout and all other fish.
Cockles have much sand sticking to their shells before storms.
Crabs burrow in the sand before strong gales. If eels are exceptionally lively, rain may be expected. When dolphins or porpoises swim to windward, foul weather will come within twenty-four hours. When dolphins or porpoises are seen tumbling up and down the Bristol Channel, exceptionally favourable weather may be expected. An old Welsh fisherman of Porthcawl, Glamorgan, said that when he was a boy the men were accustomed to set three nets in the sea, and closely watched the middle one.