Kinging 



enough for you to be able to locate a shoal and surround them be- 

 fore they've heard you and dived to the bottom. And ringing's 

 fast. Outside the pools it's the fastest way of making money know^n 

 to man. I mean that, Johnny. You really can sail at six o'clock in 

 the evening and come back a couple of hours later with anything 

 up to six hundred pounds worth of herring stowed in your hold. 

 You can't be sure of doing it, mind you, but it can be done, for 

 I've done it.' 



'Well, why the hell aren't you doing it now?' 

 *Ah, there man, Ian, but I told you. There's too damned many 

 ring boats about and too few herring in the Minch. I'm sorry, 

 Johnny boy, I should have told you that once upon a time you 

 could make that kind of money and I suppose it will be the same 

 again. In 1945 I did it, and Jack Murdoch did it as late as 195^2. 

 He was sailing from Loch Broom. But, just at the moment, it 

 can't be done. But what does it matter. Let's have another drink 

 and tomorrow we'll go out and take the cream off the East Ang- 

 lian moon.' 



207 



