LOCH-FISHING. 425 



at every open space, however small, and twitch back again 

 without playing it an inch. Even thus, you were almost sure 

 of a weed at each endeavour. I did hook a fish, however, 

 and, thanks to the goodness of my tackle, landed him in spite 

 of the weeds. It was the shortest, thickest, and most silvery 

 yellow trout I ever brought to the bank of loch or river. 

 Weight, two pounds and a half. Angus, my guide, told me 

 that all the very large ones were caught with worm ; but a 

 dull, windy, showery day was indispensable, so none would 

 look at mine. 



I gave the trouts an hour's rest, and during this interval 

 had an account of a Loch Fyne herring-fisher's life, from 

 Angus, a frank athletic young man, the skipper and part 

 owner of a boat. The fleet of scows, which are always hauled 

 up high and dry to refit after the season is over, were all 

 launching at present, and Angus meant to set sail in ten days. 

 When shooting their nets, they had their choice of the best 

 herrings to eat ; for when they sold them " by the dizen, 1 the 

 warst made up the coont, and fetched the same price as the 

 best." In the creeks and lochs where they anchored, they 

 could always get milk from the shepherds' shielings and bothies 

 scattered along the banks, which milk from the little Highland 

 cattle, grazed in the sheltered straths and glens, " was as rich 

 as cream every drap o't." Some of the fishermen, he said, 

 " indulged in dirt ; " which luxury, however, he strictly pro- 

 hibited in his boat. 



It was now time to take to my rod again, and go over all 

 the open places with the fly. Another trout actually rose 

 and hooked at the same spot as the former one ; but in strain- 

 ing to prevent his entanglement in the weeds, his hold broke. 

 The " weedy loch " is a novelty to most anglers, and well worth 

 a visit on that account. 



1 Various sizes of herring frequent different lochs. They are called " skulls "; 

 and the Loch Fyne skull is so much larger than the others that five hundred go 

 to a cran, while seven hundred from Loch Long are required to make it. 



