AND HOW I HAVE CAUGHT MY FISH 155 



pleased to see the keen interest they took in the 

 lines and baits attached. The fine single strand 

 wire trace was fingered by McCole and shown to 

 Johnny, who said something to his mate not quite 

 intelligible to us, but its purport could be guessed 

 quite easily, " the gear would quickly snap." A 

 breeze filled the sail and we were once again 

 listening to the music of the lapping wavelets on 

 our bow. 



The two miles that separate the mainland from 

 Rutland Island were soon passed, and, while in 

 the narrow passage that leads out to the wider 

 channel which is sheltered from western winds by 

 Arranmore, we, at the invitation of our boatmen, 

 put out our baits. Quite quickly we were both 

 engaged with heavy fish where the tide was running 

 fast and we had some exciting fun before we got 

 them near the boat, but the greatest fun was to 

 steal glances at the watching faces of our boatmen 

 who were most evidently expecting breakages. 



Once through the passage I called a halt for 

 conference as to our day's proceedings. We had 

 a week to stay and desired to map it out as tides 

 permitted. It would be a waste to go where the 

 rush of waters would be so great as to prevent 

 headway being made against it. Choose sheltered 

 bays for when the tide flows or ebbs strongly and 

 rocky points when the water slackens. 



