^e ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



and as they are strong-, and struggle hard, they afford 

 plenty of sport. It is necessary to use a gaff to land a 

 "calig" or " bloggan " of above seven or eight pounds. 

 A cheap gaff may be made by filing- down the point of a 

 large conger or bonita hook, and lashing it to a stout 

 wooden handle of from two to three feet in length. 



Amongst the first things that a sea fisherman has to do, 

 is, to get to know the situation of the rocks and beds of 

 tangle, the set of tide, and other matters of the same sort. 

 This knowledge he will gather by an hour's quiet chat with 

 the local fishermen, who, over a pipe, will in the most 

 obliging way give all the information they can. Let me, 

 however, point out, that Manxmen are a fine, hardy, 

 independent set of fellows, who do not care either to be 

 chaffed or condescendingly patronised, but who never 

 hesitate to take any amount of trouble to assist those 

 who ask it in a manly, straightforward way. I have 

 visited the island for many years, staying there some- 

 times for weeks at a time, and in no part of the United 

 Kingdom have I found greater civility or kindness. 



The situation of the rocks and tangle beds, most of 

 which are to the south of Ramsey harbour and town, is 

 soon learned. There is one large rock, called " The 

 Carrig," about a mile and a quarter S.E. from the 

 harbour, and about half-a-mile from the shore, which 

 was some years ago the scene of a wreck, some 

 of the timbers of which now lie at the bottom of the sea, 

 close to the rock. It is covered at about three-quarter 

 tide, but when the top is visible it may be considered 

 as a good fishing ground. This was the first place that 



