BAITS, AND SEA-FISHING 131 



And, when one has sailed across the bay, and is 

 miles from home, and the soft warm twilight of 

 summer has shaded the sea, and softened the out- 

 lines of the coast, he can put up the four pieces of 

 his rough bamboo rod, and tie some white-winged 

 flies of a smaller size to a thinner cord, and cast 

 away to the leeward. It will go hard if he does not 

 get in among the poddies, as the young of the saithe 

 and lythe are called ; and, when once in, his fun will 

 be fast, and furious. If one takes the hook, it only 

 attracts the others, till half a dozen may be pulled 

 out in a row. It seems a great shame, seeing that 

 not one of the fifty, or sixty caught will ever be 

 used. 



In this crude state, I am afraid, the art remains 

 in Scotland. It may, as an enthusiast puts it, have 

 a great future. It is undoubtedly susceptible of 

 greater delicacy of method, seeing that it could 

 scarcely be rougher. If one really wants larger 

 numbers, he will do well to use finer tackle ; but 

 I never yet heard anyone complain that he had not 

 enough of the kind. In any case, in the interests 

 of true sport, I should certainly recommend the 

 fisher to keep to edible forms. 



Whether the northern angler will catch the 

 infection is, I think, more than doubtful. Many 



