A Sportsman at Large 245 



resistance not in the least like the active antagonism of a 

 big sea-trout but there was weight behind this customer. 

 When I had him close in, and on the surface, my curious gaze 

 fell upon a great, gaping mouth and big lack-lustre eyes. 

 A five-pound codling by all that was wonderful a strange 

 catch to come one's way when trout fishing ! 



I was not over-pleased with this unlooked-for intrusion, 

 as it meant more waste of time, and as yet I had not had 

 a decent fish, though they were to be seen busy all over 

 the place ; but after a few more casts, I saw a beauty come 

 at me, and he took a firm hold. Then I had ten minutes' 

 excellent sport and excitement before I netted, with complete 

 satisfaction, a beautiful silvery specimen of the trutta ilk, which 

 when weighed went to exactly six and a half pounds. 



This proved the first and last really decent fish which I 

 caught in the voes. I had one of two pounds soon after ; 

 and then there was a tremendous commotion. It appeared 

 as if the whole bunch had been scared by some danger beyond 

 my ken ; for they proceeded to rush out to the depths ol the 

 sea with panicky precipitancy, leaving me with nothing to 

 angle for. 



Nor did they return the next day, or ever again during my 

 stay. 



The ways of fishes are indeed passing strange ! 



And now I must go back a bit in order to introduce you 

 to a very notable personage, none other than Doctor Straton, 

 Bishop of Sodor and Man, who, like myself, had heard of the 

 excellent fishing in the voes of the sea for salmo trutta. 

 His lordship wrote asking me, that if, during his Episcopal 

 holiday, he happened to visit the Orkneys, would I grant him 

 the great privilege of fishing from the shores of Graeme's Hall 

 Bay. As I had heard of the sporting proclivities of this eminent 

 divine, and being primed with the spirit of angling fraternity, 

 I there and then sat down and wrote to the good Bishop, 

 saying that I hoped he would make himself free of Graeme's 

 Hall and so afford us the pleasure of his company, as soon as 

 he was able to tear himself from his see. 



In due course his Lordship arrived and overwhelmed me 

 with words of gratitude and thankfulness ; but alas ! he put 



