426 



FISHING ON SALT-WATER LOCHS. 



THE sea-loch has a character peculiarly its own, no wooded 

 islands no green or pebbly margin, like its inland sister, ex- 

 cept perhaps for a short time at full tide ; and the dark moun- 

 tain more often rises abruptly from its side in craggy and bold 

 relief. It is a novel sight for the traveller, whom the refresh- 

 ing evening breeze has tempted out of the neighbouring inn, 

 at the landlord's recommendation, to try his fishing luck with 

 such a clumsy rod and tackle as he had never dreamt of be- 

 fore. The awkward-looking herring " scows," well matched 

 with their black or red sails, scudding in all directions ; the 

 nasal twang of the Gaelic, as they pass the bow or stern of 

 his boat, shooting their nets ; the hardy, weather-beaten face 

 of the Highlander, always civil in his reply, and courteous in 

 pointing out the most likely ground to the "stranger" re- 

 iterating his injunctions (when his stock of English extends 

 no further) " to keep on the Iroo" yet plainly showing that 

 he expects the like courtesy in return, and that the least slip 

 on your part would immediately make him change his tone, 

 all this can hardly fail to impress on the mind of the imagina- 

 tive, that the spirit of the Highlands, though dormant, is not 

 dead, and to carry back his fancy to the old times of clans, 

 caterans, and claymores. 1 



1 It is often amusing to see how easily the warm blood will boil, even in those 

 whom years and hardship might have cooled. The following characteristic in- 



