wait until they think the trout have had time to reach the inner rocks,
and then softly paddle the coble away from the shore. The net is
dexterously shot, and a good man can manage to do this without making a
splash. The long curtain is about four feet deep, and lead sinkers make
it hang true. Not a word is spoken until the great bladder which marks
the end of the net falls into the sea. Then the boat is taken toward the
shore, and the fishermen rest quiet for awhile, until it is time to
begin splashing. The big pole is dashed into the water in order to
frighten the trout towards the net, and very great judgment is required
in the rower, for if he happens to take the wrong track he may easily
put the fish in the way of escape.

The gigantic man who used to ply the tiller, and the old rower, were
both very clever at this kind of fishing. The older of the two was
called "Big Harry," and the younger was called "Little Harry." There was
humour in this mode of naming, for Little Harry stood six feet four,
while Big Harry only measured about six feet three. Big Harry had four
sons altogether, and the average height of the family was about six feet
four. All the lads were extremely good-looking, but the old man liked
Little Harry best, and always took him for partner. The other sons
handled the second of the family cobles, and the five men made an
excellent living. It was a fine sight to see the fellows go away in the
afternoon. They wore great boots that came up to the thigh, blue woollen
caps, or sou-westers, and thick dark Guernseys. All of them were
dark-haired and dark-eyed, and with their earrings, they looked strange
and foreign. The three younger lads, who were much bigger than their
father, went partners in one boat, and the two gaudy craft took their
several ways. The men never said good-bye or good-night, nor did they
use any other form of politeness, because by the fishermen any
demonstration of friendliness, even among relations, is counted as
showing softness. The mother of the lads was a handsome,
broad-shouldered woman who had been a beauty in her day. She mostly used
to spare time for seeing her tall fellows off, but she never waved to
them. In spite of this reticence, it must not be supposed that the
family were unkindly: more gentle and helpful men never lived, and
there was not one of them who had not done some brave thing. It may be
worth while to tell a story illustrative of their disposition.

One bris