38 MODERN SEA FISHING 



steamers up the north-west coast, joining it at Oban, Greenock, 

 or Glasgow (in order of merit), stop at any little place which 

 presents itself, fish for a few days, take a steamer to the next 

 likely spot, and so on. The scenery is simply magnificent, the 

 sport is likely to be good, and there is always, in addition 

 to the sea, the chance of some fly fishing in lochs and the 

 smaller streams near the coast. In those bays and sea-lochs 

 into which salmon and sea-trout rivers run, sea-trout, and more 

 rarely a grilse or two, may be occasionally caught in salt water 

 by means of spinning baits, or flies trailed behind the boat. 

 On the north coast of Scotland, in the kyles or sea-lochs of 

 Durness and Tongue, whiffing or railing for sea-trout is regu- 

 larly carried on with considerable success in April, May, and 

 June, and a good deal of sea-trout fishing in salt water is to 

 be obtained round the islands of Shetland and Orkney. 



A very high authority has delivered his opinion that the 

 east coasts of Great Britain and Ireland are more highly 

 favoured by fish than the west coasts. But the east coast of 

 Scotland does not offer such great attractions to the sportsman 

 as the western shores, for the simple reason that it is more 

 exposed, and during weeks at a time the angler may not be 

 able to fish either from the rocks or put to sea in a boat. 

 Haddocks, cod, and herrings are most abundant ; but of what 

 use is this abundance to the angler when there is a double line of 

 surf breaking on the shore, or great billows foaming up against 

 the base of the cliff and sending the white spray high overhead ? 



But the eastern coast of Scotland must be dealt with. 

 Aberdeen is notable as being the first place where a club of any 

 kind has been formed for the prosecution of sea fishing. It still 

 exists, and is called, I believe, the Rock Anglers' Association. 

 It consists mainly of working men, who, in the autumn, catch 

 large numbers of cod and other fish from the rocks. In the 

 little village of Findon, which lies between Stonehaven and 



