294 SALMON AND SEA TROUT FISHING. 



boat is observed to work an isolated portion of the 

 loch, by incessant repetitions of long roving flights, 

 intercepted only when nearing either shore, or when 

 about to turn. The trailing " otter " then is relieved 

 of its captures, if any. The way in which this 

 operation is effected sufficiently initiates as to the 

 unsportsmanlike nature of this mackerel-line style of 

 taking fish. The line is hauled in rapidly, hand over 

 hand, the string of lures is with small show of 

 ceremony banged aboard with but meagre regard 

 for consequences ; a sort of certainty of success 

 seems responsible for the rude and ready way in 

 which the whole apparatus is plied. The natural 

 issue is, that the larger fish hooked are more often 

 than not lost by bungling treatment when nearing 

 the boat ; indeed, it was a common practice to strike, 

 and thus stun the larger fish (after the fashion 

 followed still upon the St. Lawrence, and other 

 American rivers), preparatory to unhooking them, 

 line or rather rope being loosed immediately in case 

 the blow should fail of the desired effect. Personal 

 interest had invited our attention as to the mode of 

 procedure in " otter " fishing, on the occasion in 

 question. We had consented to make an effort to 

 out-bag the product of this appliance preparatory to 

 our setting out, the owner thereof having a breadth 

 of water set apart for his use, whilst we individually 

 had a roving commission. 



The earlier hours of the day had yielded us but 

 meagre sport ; brown trout, with the exception of 

 a solitary sea trout, were our only acquisitions up to 



