1 82 LOCH CRERAN. 



we have noted once or twice previously in our bay. But 

 our little net is not in order, and we are otherwise resolved, 

 so we leave them until " to-morrow," and set off for the 

 cairn. While the boat progresses over a sandy stretch, a 

 dark object is observed at the bottom, but before the 

 boat is checked and the spot reached the skate has 

 escaped our sight. How lazily we skirt the rocky shore 

 with one eye on the algse-covered bottom ! for although 

 the sun is fast sinking behind the Kingairloch hills, the 

 sinking tide is shoaling the water on our fishing ground, 

 so that the bottom will be nearer us and not more 

 difficult to examine, although the light may be less. 



It is not so easy to hit the cairn with a fathom and a 

 half of water still over it, but we ought to know every 

 inch of ground here, and we don't go far off it. At last 

 the boat is over the top stone, all covered with mussels 

 as it is, and we continue to circle about it, awaiting the 

 advent of skates from the deep. Here is a dark form 

 among the algae, and see, as it is covered by the shadow 

 of the boat it turns and hastens into deeper water. A 

 few yards and it will be beyond us, for the cairn rises 

 suddenly and with little slope, so the long spear is thrown 

 at it, there is a white gleam as the belly shews, and then 

 the handle comes up to the surface and enables us to 

 hoist it on board a nice thornback of a nice size. 

 Hold ! now, steady ! and the boat halts as another comes 

 in from the deep straight towards us, and with a desperate 

 protest is at once in the boat. Between times the boat 

 circles about a moderate space of ground, covered with 

 a great growth of fuci, and these again wearing a yellow 

 beard of more delicate annuals. Now and again a saithe 

 or lythe crosses under the boat unregarded, and we are 

 too intent on skate even to note that the sun has dis- 



