128 MOSTLY ABOUT TROUT 



Lest I should cause a rapid migration of 

 anglers to the same resort, I had better mention 

 at once that the total weight taken by the 

 most fortunate fisher at that hotel in five weeks 

 was about fifty pounds, and I am firmly con- 

 vinced that a large proportion were not caught 

 with fly, but by trailing a spinning-bait in the 

 saltwater lochs or " voes " in rough weather. 

 These voes are arms of the sea stretching far 

 inland all round the Shetlands, so that the 

 coast-line itself seems to be about a hundred 

 times the length of the circumference of each 

 island, measured across the mouths of these 

 voes. 



We arrived at Lerwick at about 11 p.m. 

 We did not quite have the experience of a view 

 of the midnight sun, but I remember sitting 

 at my bedroom window at the hotel, over- 

 looking the harbour, after 11.30 p.m., reading 

 a letter in broad daylight. Next day we drove 

 about twenty miles by post-cart to our destina- 

 tion, supped, and were told our place on the 

 roster with the other rods for the following 

 day's fishing. There were eight men in the 

 little company, and one lady, who possessed 

 the attribute, priceless in so remote a spot, 

 of great skill and experience in the tying of 

 flies, of which such patterns as teal and red, 



