SHORES OF THE CLYDE AND FIRTH. 
147 
pit in Loch Fyne, but would rather accompany them on a 
herring trawling expedition, a request readily granted, 
when we at once descend to the bay and prepare to embark 
on our journey. 
Herring trawling in Loch Fyne is conducted with two 
boats, and two crews of four men in each boat. The net 
used stretches sometimes over 100 fathoms in length, and 
to as many as twenty fathoms in depth. The sole, or under 
rope, to which the net is attached is mounted with lead 
sinkers ; and the back, or top rope, is furnished with corks, 
lashed on at particular distances to float the net from the 
surface, like a perpendicular wall, and to both ends a 
hauling rope is attached, which stretches to the distance of 
as many as 300 fathoms. 
With the fishing gear shipped, and the crews in their 
respective places, we now pilot our stout commodious skiffs 
out of the narrow harbour into the waters of the far- 
reaching loch. The evening is clear, and the sea calm and 
motionless, as down the bold Skipness coast we paddle our 
way ; but as the moon is in the early part of her first 
quarter, the twilight is speedily gone, and we are soon 
under the darkening shadows of the night. Darkness, 
however, is most itppreciated by the trawlers, particularly 
when, as they say, "the burning is in the water." This 
phenomenon begins to be observed in August, and continues 
until the frost of winter sets in. Its cause is generally 
ascribed to the decay of the incalculable hosts of animalcules 
that inhabit the water, giving place through death to a new 
and more active life during that particular period of the 
year. The phenomenon is a familiar one throughout the 
seas and oceans of the world, and during its prevalence, 
when the water is disturbed, a luminous flame spreads all 
round the seat of disturbance, marking, from the surface to 
