secretly put it out of the way. This man I know. If the catch of fish, "the shot," is poor on any occasion the usual saying is, "We've met the cat i' the mornin'." This is a common saying, however, when any undertaking has gone amiss. The fishermen of Footdee look on the cat as an animal of evil omen.
The salmon goes by the name of "the beast," or the "fool beast." (Macduff.)
Some fishermen (Cullen) will not pronounce the word "parten" (crab). If they were to do so evil would befall them, as a poor "shot" of fish, loss of lines, or such like.
In Cove it is unlucky to speak of mice, rats, pigs, swine, or salmon, when the line is being baited.
If a woman has any relations or friends at sea she must on no account comb and dress her hair after nightfall. Such an act brings disaster upon them. (Rosehearty.)
It is accounted unlucky to give fire out of a house, so much so that one would not enter a house, and light his pipe at the fire, and walk out. Luck would leave the house. (Macduff.)
A form of curse is: "May Norrawa be yir first laanan" (Macduff), and it is spoken when the boat is going to sea. Another curse is: "May yir boat be yir bonnet the first time ye gyang to the sea." A good many years ago (Rosehearty) a few young men wished to have a short pleasure-sail in the evening. Without any ceremony they took possession of a boat they thought would suit their purpose. They had hardly got away from the mooring-place, when the owner hurried down, and in no friendly mood ordered them to come back. Little attention was paid to the first call. But he became so angry that they turned, but, as they were nearing the beach, one of the young men cried out—"May she be yir bonnet the neest time ye gyang oot wi 'ir." The owner was vanquished, and cried out—"Tack 'ir, tack 'ir, an awa oot wi ye." One of those that took part in this little comedy told me the story.
The practice of not locking the trunks of those going from home to prosecute the fishing is followed in Macduff. The trunk is packed, placed near the door ready to be taken to the boat, and the key put
