CHAP. I.] 



LOCHMABEN. 



have an ample supply of fish for fast-day fare. It is curious 

 as regards the vendace that they float about in shoals, that they 

 make the same kind of poppling noise as the herring, and that 

 they cannot be easily taken by any kind of bait. At certain 

 seasons of the year the people assemble for the purpose of 

 holding a vendace feast, at which times large quantities of the 

 fish are caught by means of a sweep net. The fish is said to 



LOCHMABEN. 

 The home of the Vendace. 



have been found in other waters besides those of Lochmaben, 

 but I have never been able to see a specimen anywhere else. 

 There are a great number of traditions afloat about the vendace, 

 and a story of its having been introduced to the lake by Mary 

 Queen of Scots. The country people are very proud of their 

 fish, and take a pride in showing it to strangers. The principal 

 information I can give about the vendace, without becoming 

 technical, is, that it is a beautiful and very symmetrical fish, 

 about seven or eight inches long, not at all unlike a herring, 

 only not so brilliant in the colour ; and that the females of 



