202 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



excitement with two that crossed each other, entangled 

 our hnes, and thus got free. 



We landed for lunch on a small sandy beach where 

 salmon fishers often haul the nets that were now 

 hanging from the rocks while being repaired. I 

 learned from our men that the huge rents that were 

 being mended were caused by seals, which did not 

 hesitate to take a salmon from out the net, when 

 quite near the shore, and that there were one or two 

 gray-headed rascals that would watch the whole 

 proceedings and then at the last moment snatch 

 a fish. 



O'M alley and Lavelle, who had merely lifted a hand 

 in answer to similar greetings from the netsmen on 

 landing, wandered off, when the smoke commenced 

 that followed the lunch, towards their countrymen for 

 a chat, and Harry and I, being curious to see the 

 destruction that seals could work with nets, slowly 

 followed. The group that formed when our men 

 approached the others was a remarkable sample of 

 hardy, rugged manhood, with not a pound of flesh 

 to spare; bone and muscle, furrowed faces, clear, 

 sparkling eyes, and huge, brown hands hemmed 

 Brian in. Co aid you have seen, as I had hoped, a 

 photo of this group — Harry's effort proved a blur — 

 with the sea at the side and the huge nets hanging from 

 the rocks to form a background, you would have 

 searched each face and stalwart form and concluded 

 that there were patriarchs amongst them almost as 

 old and wonderful as Brian, who, like him, still sought 

 profit for their labours from the sea. 



The morning's sport had been so varied by mis- 

 fortunes that I hoped it would make us more careful 

 of our doings; the mere chance of such happenings 

 should do that, and their happening cause us to 

 become philosophical enough not to feel the need of 

 words that are said to frighten fish, but hasten to put 

 on fresh tackle. 



