SUNNING 221 



some white object hanging in the water from the 

 stern : the sculls of horses are in high repute for 

 this service ; and I dare say a stuffed otter would 

 be excellent, though I never tried it. 



When you think you have created sufficient terror 

 by these means, you may look about for the fish, 

 and the sport begins. You may manage your boat 

 with the leister, as in burning by night, of which 

 hereafter : but you do not, as in that case, neces- 

 sarily work her broadside in front ; and one artist 

 is sufficient for the amusement, though more may 

 partake of it. If the leisterer knows the water well, 

 he puts the boat gently over the rocks and stones, 

 where the fish endeavour to conceal themselves. 

 Sometimes they get under a large stone and are 

 entirely hidden ; generally they are partially con- 

 cealed under smaller stones, part of the body and 

 tail only being seen ; so that it requires some 

 dexterity to strike them properly, or indeed at all. 

 Some will lie under the shelf of a rock quite open 

 to the view ; in which case you must be careful, 

 when you strike, that a prong of the leister does not 

 rest upon the ledge of a rock above, instead of on 

 the salmon. Others I have seen lying fair and open 

 in the bare channel ; but these will not lie to the 

 leister so well as those in the situations I have 

 mentioned. If you do not strike a fish near the 

 centre of his body, you are never very sure of lifting 

 him. The late Staffa, before he came to his title, 

 was once sunning the Pavilion-water with John 

 Lord Somerville, and perceiving that the fisherman 

 in their boat had struck a salmon that was likely to 



