term used by Australian fishermenfor ground bait. It is probably of aboriginal origin.
1882. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods,`Fish and Fisheries of New South Wales,' p. 75:
«With hook and line along the rocks of our sea-coast thesefishes are caught, but the bait should be crabs. It is usualto wrench legs and shell off the back, and cast them out forBerley.»
1896. `Badminton Magazine,' August, p. 201:
«I would signal to the sharks by opening and washing out a fewof the largest fish at the boat's head, sometimes adding baitchopped small to serve for what Australian fishermen callBerley.»