A HARD PULL. 46 



good. Walter's fish was scarcely so large as my first. 

 We continued this for about an hour longer, and then, 

 as the tide turned, we gave it up. We had each caught 

 another lithe ; and, on counting our fish, we found that 

 we had fifty-six cuddies and five lithe, weighing, by 

 Donald's calculation, altogether not far short of 100 Ib. 

 On the whole, then, we were very much pleased with 

 the day's sport, which had more than satisfied our 

 greatest expectations. The lithe, especially, were a 

 most agreeable surprise ; and I think, with a good rod 

 and fine tackle, they would afford sport equal to that 

 of any salmon. Few anglers, therefore, need be with- 

 out enjoyment ; the sea is open to every one, and I am 

 told that there are plenty of these fish on all the rocky 

 parts of the coast; so that those who are debarred from 

 salmon-fishing need only turn to the lithe, and find 

 amusement equally good. We now set our faces 

 towards home, or rather our backs, for we began to 

 pull manfully against the ebb of the tide. We had 

 occupied about an hour in coming ; but, in returning, 

 we found the current much stronger, and, in conse- 

 quence, for some time made but little way, when 

 suddenly our stroke (Donald) snapped his oar, and we 

 were left with only three remaining to make our way 

 across the loch, not far short of four miles, with a 

 strong current against us. This was but a gloomy 

 prospect for us, unequal as we had been, even at start- 

 ing, to any great exertions ; and, to make matters 

 worse, the sky was clouding over, a slight breeze had 

 sprung up, which promised to be greater, and we could 

 see that the centre of the loch was much more turbid 

 than when we crossed it in the morning. There was 

 nothing for it, however, but to make the attempt and 

 do our best. 



