82 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



harbour amongst the tangle-covered rocks and old 

 timbers. At length he moved, and rapidly too, but I had 

 him well in hand, and after checking some half dozen 

 vicious rushes, I saw the side of a fine fish gleaming 

 brightly in the water. In another minute or two he 

 was at the side of the boat, and Robert lifted him in 

 by the gaff. He was a pollack of ten pounds weight, in 

 magnificent condition, and certainly had died game, 



I then determined to carry out a plan which I had 

 formed of fishing the little creeks and crannies at Maug- 

 hold Head, and so rowed quietly a couple of miles south 

 from the Carrig to another detached rock called the 

 "Stack," On my way I got one or two more fish, including 

 a nice rock-cod of about four pounds weight. As I have 

 before stated, Maughold Head is the headland which forms 

 the southern boundary of Ramsey Bay. It is composed 

 of wild crags and rocks, which in some places rise to a 

 considerable height, and there is deep water up to the 

 very edge. Under the shadow of the rocks was the place 

 I had determined to fish, as I knew that it could only be 

 fished on a perfectly calm day. If there is any wind 

 there is sure to be a sea running at one side or other of 

 Maughold Head, sufficient to try the seaworthiness of a 

 boat and the muscles of the rowers. However, this 

 day there was not a ripple. As we rowed along 

 about ten yards from the rocks, the cormorants, which 

 were sitting in scores on the ledges above, would tumble 

 into the sea or scatter off" over the water as fast as they 

 could go. The scenery was grand in the extreme, 

 but I had not full time to admire it, as my attention 



