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THE EEL A. 



"A GEE AT 'steethe' (shoal) of piltacks set in at 

 Muness, and great numbers being ' drawn.' " Such 

 was the news brought to me one day in mid-winter. 

 Like almost every Shetland boy and lad I was an 

 enthusiastic fisher both with rod and line ; so here 

 was a fine chance of a day's sport not to be let slip. 

 My first run was to Peter, my uncle's factotum — his 

 friend, adviser, and companion in all his expeditions, 

 fully as much as his trusted servant. He was a 

 man of great natural ability and good sense — also 

 a capital boatman, a good shot, and a first-rate 

 fisherman. He was prodigiously strong, an athlete 

 with whom no man in the island was able successfully 

 to compete. Owing to this and to his commanding 

 presence and force of character, quite as much as 

 to the quasi authority, which, in virtue of his office 

 and sterling worth, was conceded to him by our 

 seniors, we respected him greatly. Certainly we also 

 stood just a little in awe of him ; but he was always 

 obliging, good tempered and sympathetic, and there- 

 fore a prime favourite with us. Withal he was a 

 very prudent, cautious man. It was therefore always 

 considered quite safe for us to go on any expedition 



