When the hook gets fixed in the bottom of the sea, one of the fishermen throws a stone overboard, and says, "Lat go!" (Macduff.) This is not now done by many, and when it is done it seems to be very much in joke.
A person with red hair is by some looked upon as having "an ill fit." (Pittulie.)
If a fisherman meets one that has the reputation of having an "ill fit," he makes some excuse for turning and walking a few steps with him or her to turn away the ill luck. (Macduff.)
If one with an "ill fit" enters a house during the making of a line or the baiting of it the end of it is passed through the fire or round the "crook."
A white stone is not used as a "lug-steen," that is, the stone tied to the lower corner (ear=lug) of the herring-net to sink it. (Macduff.)
When the men were going to the herring fishing for the first time, one of the women of the house used to throw the beesom after them. The same thing was done, when a new net was taken out of the house to be put into the boat. (Rosehearty.)
During the herring fishing the scabs of the fish must not be washed off the boat, neither must they be cleaned off the fishermen's sea-boots. If this is done good luck flees away. (Macduff and other places.)
A good many years ago W——— W——— of G——— was unsuccessful in the herring fishing. The boat had been forespoken, and, until the curse was removed, there would be no success. The fisherman consulted a wise woman well known in Buchan: she counselled the burning of one of the nets; the net was accordingly offered in sacrifice.
Not very many years ago J——— Mack in M——— was making a very poor herring fishing. What could be the reason? His son had a rabbit, and, what was still more serious, of a black colour. It was this black rabbit that was at the root of the evil, for in that village the rabbit along with the hare, the rat, the cat, and the salmon, are unlucky. So the black rabbit had to die, and the fisherman
