CHAP. viii. FISHING-BOAT FLEETS. 131 



beneath you. Far away it is as smooth as glass. 

 During the herring season, the fishing-boats shoot 

 out from the rocky clefts in which the harbours are 

 formed. Underneath are the fishing-boats of Gar- 

 denstown ; to the right those of Crovie. Eastward, 

 you observe the immense fleet of Fraserburgh vessels, 

 about a thousand in number, creeping out to sea. 

 Westward, are the fishing-boats of Macduff, of 

 Banff, Whitehills, Portsoy, Cullen, Sandend, Fin- 

 dochtie, and the Buckies, all making their appearance 

 by degrees. The whole horizon becomes covered 

 with fleets of fishing-boats. Across the Moray Firth, 

 in the far distance, the Caithness mountains are re- 

 lieved against the evening sky. The hills of Morven 

 and the Maiden's Pap are distinctly visible. The sun, 

 as it descends, throws a gleam of molten gold across 

 the bosom of the firth. A few minutes more and the 

 sun goes down, leaving the toilers of the sea to pursue 

 their labours amidst the darkness of the night. 



Gamrie Head is locally called Mohr Head.* The 

 bay of Gamrie is a picturesque indentation of the 

 coast, effected by the long operation of water upon 

 rocks of unequal solidity. The hills, which descend 

 to the coast, are composed of hard grauwacke, in 

 which is deeply inlaid a detached strip of mouldering 

 old red sandstone. The waves of the German Ocean, 

 by perpetual lashing against the coast, have washed 

 out the sandstone, and left the little bay of Gamrie 



* The Celtic name for Big Head. 



