A DAY AT LOUGH MELVIN. 59 



shoreward, into those places where, from the 

 rocky and uneven nature of the bottom, the 

 boat was unable to approach. 



" Now then, shove off," said the Scholar, 

 as he took his place in the bow of the off- 

 shore boat, followed by the Captain, who 

 had been baiting a formidable litch* with a 

 good-sized par, and was trying its spinning 

 qualities, as the boat, under the influence of 

 a pair of paddles, took its place at the edge 

 of the deep water. 



The signal was given : the cross-line, ex- 

 tended between the two boats, fell lightly on 

 the surface, while the boats, in parallel lines, 

 swept the north-eastern shore of the lake. 



There never was a better day for this kind 

 of fishing ; without a ripple on the water 

 the cross-lines are absolutely useless, and in 

 a stiff breeze the hooks are perpetually 

 catching one another, and entangling the 

 whole concern : but at this particular time 

 the wind had entirely sunk, while the waters 

 were still agitated under the effects of last 

 night's gale, and tinged, though very slightly, 



* Litch, from the Saxon, lych — a dead body. An 

 arrangement of hooks and swivels calculated to give 

 the appearance of life to a dead bait. 



