THE SAIL-FLUKE. 23!) 



time by an anchor or grapple, and its situation marked by a 

 floating buoy ; the boat is then rowed or rather sculled by the 

 apprentice in a circle, the fisherman near the stern handing 

 out and clearing the net : when the circle is completed and a 

 space enclosed, the net is hauled in near the starting-point in a 

 direction across the fixed end." 



The Sail-fluke, a species of flat-fish common among the 

 Orkneys, where it is highly prized as an article of food, Its flesh 

 being firm and white, is remarkable- for its curious habit of 

 coming ashore spontaneously, with its tail erected above the 

 water, like a boat under sail, whence it has derived its name. 

 This it does generally in calm weather, and on sandy shores, and 

 the country people residing near such places train their dogs to 

 catch it. In North Eonaldshay, the northernmost island of the 

 group, a considerable supply is obtained in an original manner : 

 thus described in a letter from a resident inserted in Yarrell's 

 "■British Fishes : " " In the winter and early spring, a pair of 

 black-headed gulls take possession of the South Bay, drive away 

 all interlopers, and may be seen at daybreak every morning, 

 beating from side to side, on the wing, and never both in 

 one place, except in the act of crossing as they pass. The 

 sail-fluke skims the ridge of the wave towards the shore with 

 its tail raised over its back, and when the wave recedes is left on 

 the sand, into which it burrows so suddenly and completely that, 

 though I have watched its approach, only once have I succeeded 

 in finding its burrow. 



■ " The gull, however, has a surer eye, and casting like a hawk 

 pounces on the fluke, from which, by one stroke of its bill, it- 

 extracts the liver. If not disturbed, the gull no sooner gorges 

 the luscious morsel than it commences dragging the fish to 

 some outlying rock, where he and his consort may discuss it at 

 leisure. By robbing the black backs, I have had the house 

 supplied daily with this excellent fish, in weather during which 

 no fishing-boat could put to sea. Close to the beach of South 

 Bay, a stone wall has been raised to shelter the crops from the 

 sea-spray. Behind this we posted a smart lad, who kept his eye 

 on the soaring gulls. The moment one. of the birds made its 

 well-known swoop, the boy rushed to the sea-strand shouting 

 out with all his might. He was usually in time to scare the 

 gull away and secure the fluke, but almost in every case with 



