SHORE-FISHING. 95 
the first salt-water angling club in these parts, and 
as such is deserving of more attention than previous 
chroniclers have given it. I am indebted for the 
following particulars to Mr. George Mackay, a 
frequent contributor to the Fishing Gazette. 
There are two associations, he says, at Aberdeen, 
the “Amateur Rock - Fishers” and the ,, 
7 erdeen 
“Bon Accord Fishers,” the former, and _ rock- 
senior, club numbering about 150 members, fishers 
while to the latter, only recently organised, belong 
about half that number. There is yet a third 
association at Stonehaven, with a membership of 
something over 30. All these clubs have dis- 
tinctive badges and regular rendezvous ; their sub- 
scriptions range from 2d. to 3d. per quarter, in 
addition to a light entrance fee. These associations 
have, one and all, done good work in regulating 
their competitions and collecting information ; but 
their chief influence has been in the direction of 
elevating the orale of the rock-fisher and bringing 
any objectionable pot-hunter to his bearings. 
Mr. Mackay further gives an account of the 
tackle and baits used in this rock-fishing in Tackte 
the north, and they serve admirably as an used 
example of the right gear for rock-fishing generally. 
The best rock-rod, he says, is a bamboo in three or 
four joints, 18 or 20 feet in all, a formidable though 
inexpensive weapon. For bait-fishing in the deeper 
pools for large fish, such a rod cannot be beaten ; 
but the comparatively few rock-fishers who angle 
with fly or other artificial bait use a lighter rod of 
about 12 feet in length. Silklines, apart from their 
expense, are not found so good as those of barked 
or unbarked cord ; and as for reel, although it adds 
to the angler’s comfort when obliged to give law to 
