38 EEMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 



an idea, for there was no spring fishing to be 

 got — unless you call catching kelts and foul 

 sea-trout fishing: I don't. The streams held 

 brownies, or brown trout, doubtless ; but when 

 you did get them, they were not worth carry- 

 ing home ; and I formed then the opinion 

 that I have ever since adhered to, that, except 

 in the Grimesta, there is no such thing as 

 spring fishing in the Lews. And I do not think 

 the fish come into Loch Seaforth before the 

 middle or latter end of July, if so early. 



As the summer drew nigh, F. M. and his 

 family, and E. M. came up, and the former 

 brought with him a little yacht, schooner- 

 rigged, which we flattered ourselves was to be 

 of the greatest service in taking us round into 

 the different sea-lochs in the country for fish- 

 ing, shooting, and stalking purposes. The 

 Heather Bell was that little craft named ; and 

 never were men so deceived as we were in her 

 useful capabilities. She had a skipper who was 

 a tolerable carpenter ; also an able-bodied sea- 

 man, as he styled himself, and we called him 

 " John of the Yacht " — the most arrant poacher 

 that ever stepped : he used to shoot deer with 

 slugs on his way home and back Saturday 

 evening and Monday morning, to pass his Sab- 

 bath. The gilhes and our forester occasion- 



