BAITS, AND SEA-FISHING 127 



to how these monsters are secured is thrown away 

 upon him. I have seen an angler hook a common 

 eel in a flooded stream, and I have found his face 

 a study in the expression of the emotions. 



The true sporting fish in Scots waters are, among 

 the round species, cod, with occasional whiting and 

 haddock, the last mainly taken with bait. Some 

 would include a humbler fish. " Herring have, I 

 believe, a bright future before them, as well as a 

 respectable past ; for there are many instances on 

 record of these fish taking the fly in a most com- 

 placent, and entirely satisfactory manner." A friend, 

 fishing one of the sea lochs of the west coast, had 

 the pleasure of hooking a few, but I am not aware 

 that he regarded it as sport. Really, we must draw 

 the line somewhere. 



In the months of May, and June, the most 

 delightful time of the year, "jigging" for herring 

 is largely practised by the fishermen ; but may be 

 adopted by amateurs, alike to their pleasure, and 

 profit. The arrangement consists of a string, with 

 seven knitting wires, at intervals of fourteen inches. 

 From each end of the knitting wires, a bare hook is 

 suspended fourteen in all. The two-pound sinker 

 attached to the end, is egg-shaped, to lessen the 

 friction in both directions. 



