154 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



were without hamper, and showed from their whiteness 

 that holystone was not spared ; while the crew, which 

 consisted of six men, the redoubtable Jock, and a 

 sturdy nigger, were as efficient, clean, and smart as could 

 well have been found. The captain took a great deal 

 of pleasure in his craft, and handled her as none but a 

 man of experience could ; besides, he was half owner, 

 and this made him have an -interest in all the details 

 that one employed by the month or cruise would be un- 

 likely to possess. In talking to the skipper, reading, 

 and looking over my tackle, the day passed rapidly, 

 and as night closed in and the breeze lessened^ I con- 

 cluded that I had seldom passed a pleasanter day* 



After supper, MacGregor produced his rods and fly 

 book for my inspection, and a long and careful examina^ 

 tion we had of these common subjects of interest. His 

 rods were remarkably heavy, longer than I should 

 deem necessary, while his flies were coarsely tied, 

 although the colouring was all that could be desired. 

 If one had been dismembered, I have little doubt, 

 from the dubbing and feathers of which it was com- 

 posed, three, or at least two> of my treasures could have 

 been fabricated. Of course, I soon produced my tools, to 

 all of which he gave an abundance of praise, but doubted 

 if they could do more execution than his own. My reel, 

 alone, he acknowledged to be better than his, and con- 



