CH.IX.] FISHING ON HIS OWN ACCOUNT. 131 
on his own account. The fish required for the 
consumption of the house were cleaned and 
washed in the sea-loch opposite to it; and, 
attracted by the offal which resulted from that 
process, large Cod used constantly to come in, two 
and three at a time, coasting quietly along, and 
venturing close to the shore, where there was 
scarcely depth of water to cover them, almost 
regardless of the presence of bystanders. Here 
of an evening, after we had done our day’s work, 
our friend used to take his stand, perhaps occupy- 
ing a commanding position on one of the stepping- 
stones which formed a rough pier for the purpose 
of embarkation, on the look-out for the Cod. Al- 
though he generally saw them when they were at 
some little distance from the shore, yet, if they 
seemed to be coming pretty straight towards him, 
he rarely made any demonstration until they were 
well within reach and he had a fair chance at 
them. Then in he went with a rush. There was 
a tussle, a diving, a gripping, and a blowing, and 
then gradually he emerged, struggling with and 
dragging after him the unwieldy and reluctant 
form of a big helpless-looking Cod. 
These fish rarely (if ever) venture in so close 
and boldly, except when badly fed and out of 
K2 
