214 EEMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 



experienced another. After Christmas festivi- 

 ties at the Castle, I had to start .early one 

 morning by the steamer for England, and 

 Thomas, who had been my attendant, saw me 

 and my traps on board. Whether the tip 

 exceeded, or did not come up to, his expecta- 

 tion, or whether he had had an unusually 

 strong morning, I don't know ; but he gave me 

 a second parting lounder, and, though I know 

 not what sea-sickness is, I was qualmish the 

 whole passage. 



One more trait, and I have done with this 

 king of pipers. I arrived late one Saturday 

 evening at the Castle, after fishing in the Rock 

 pool at Laxay, and had round my bonnet a very 

 good casting line, with a rough red Welsh 

 buzzy fly — a capital one for fish late on in the 

 season, particularly for the last arrival of fish 

 fresh from the sea, with sea-hue on them, fair 

 in colour, but just ready for spawning. (N.B. 

 I always returned them to the river when I 

 caught them.) The fly was also very good for 

 the large red fish who came up early, but who 

 never spawn, or never meant spawning, this 

 year. They seldom rose, but, when they did, 

 fought like demons, and, when killed, made 

 capital kippers. Of course piper was in 

 attendance^ and I told him of my success, for I 



