THE COSTUME OF ROYALTY. 431 



A more elaborate get-up for fishing consists of a short skirt of tweed 

 bound deeply round the hem with porpoise hide, and worn over 

 knickerbockers. This is made so that it can be buttoned right up, 

 forming a sort of fishwife skirt, and furnished with a big pocket for fly- 

 book and tackle. The coat is of tweed, with lapels and cuffs of porpoise 

 hide, and it is bound with this leather-like substance and furnished with 

 many pockets ; for the ardent Fisherwoman likes to have everything she 

 may require at hand, and yet cannot be hampered with much impedi- 

 menta, while the attendant gillie's many duties necessitate his being left 

 fairly free handed. If it is necessary to wade, so as to cast over a 

 favourite hole, waterproof over-all fishing boots can be put on ; but, as a 

 rule, this is not found needful ; and few ladies use them. A high-legged 

 pair of porpoise-hide boots and thick woollen stockings are usually 

 deemed sufficient, as, if a Fisherwoman must get wet, she will soon walk 

 herself dry again. When a Salmon is hooked, the excitement of playing 

 the fish, humouring him, and gradually exhausting him, until he can 

 be brought near his fate, in the shape of the murderous gaff, wielded 

 by the skilful gillie, is an experience of the most absorbing description, 

 and many a fair Fisherwoman has been known to cry from dis- 

 appointment when her finny prey has jerked away the cast and flies and 

 been lost to her for ever. In thinking out a suitable dress for fishing, it 

 is always well to remember that a few very hot hours may be experienced, 

 though these can seldom be propitious for the sport. It is, therefore, well 

 to wear a thin blouse under the warm tweed coat, so that the latter can 

 be handed over to the gillie when extra exertion or the sun's rays induce 

 too great warmth. If the skirt is not of a nature to loop up and form a 

 large pouch, a belt with a satchel is found useful for a long day. The 

 luncheon must.be easily portable, and is usually confided to the attendant, 

 but most women, knowing the strain that such continued exertion 

 imposes, carry nourishment in a compressed form, furnishing their 

 pouches or satchels with frame-food tablets, or meat lozenges, or such 

 things as they most approve for the purpose, besides a small flask of 

 sherry or claret in their own possession, as it would be awkward to want 

 food or drink on one side of a stream with the attendant carrying it on 

 the other. For loch fishing, a waterproof skirt and cape are often most 



