130 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



prejudice against him, probably because of his for- 

 bidding appearance. The tough white skin of his 

 breast will serve as a bait for mackerel. 



A shift to the sandy bottom, opposite the bathing- 

 coaches, will yield flat fish, dab, and plaice ; and 

 another to the bank, two miles farther out, whose 

 position is marked by the steeple over the distant 

 woods, will add haddock, with possibly a larger cod. 

 Pleasanter than thus riding at anchor, and less 

 likely to be productive of disagreeable consequences, 

 is sailing with a gentle breeze, say at two knots an 

 hour, fishing meanwhile. The varieties of fly are 

 almost as indefinite as those of bait; and, if one 

 chooses to open his salmon book, he will get an 

 offer for any of the named varieties. A less ex- 

 pensive lure will probably be equally attractive. 



A bright spoon bait, and half a dozen white 

 feathered hooks, attached to a common line, and 

 dropped over the stern, is often productive of large 

 fish ; sometimes so large, as I had reason to know the 

 other day, that they run everything out, and break 

 away, before there is time to slacken speed. Two 

 hooks, tied together back to back, are sometimes 

 used. 



If this be whiffing, then whiffing is not without 

 its excitement. 



