CH. VII.] FISHING FROM STEAMERS. 95 
has a line or two on board, and will be delighted 
in assisting you to catch a dish of fish for the table 
by lending them. These are, however, for the 
most part such make-shift things, that any one 
who has a mind to utilise his time in this way 
will do well to invest a shilling or two in a good 
one before starting. Fish-bait is generally pro- 
curable on board. I have myself had excellent 
sport in this way at several places along the Coast, 
particularly off Gairloch and in Little Loch Broom. 
At the former place I remember creating great 
excitement amongst the boats alongside, by get- 
ting hold of a big Stenlock. He was so heavy 
and the tackle so rotten—I was fishing with the 
steward’s—that I could not venture to haul him 
on board. At length one of the boatmen came to 
my assistance, killed him, and fastened the line 
round his gills, when he came up all right. He 
weighed nearly ten pounds. 
Although Whiting are generally taken near the 
bottom, yet it is a mistake to suppose that they 
never leave it; for they not only have the power 
of coming to the surface, but in fact not unfre- 
quently do so, or to within a short distance of it, 
when in pursuit of small fry. I know of two in- 
stances in which they have been caught by a kill- 
