The leister used in "sunning" or in "burning the water" differed
somewhat in shape from the weapon with which Tam Purdie secured his big
kipper. It, too, had five single-barbed prongs, but these were all of
equal length, and the wooden handle of this implement was straight, and
very much longer than that of the throwing leister; sixteen feet was no
unusual length for the handle of the former weapon.
Burning the water, as its name implies, was a sport indulged in at night
by torchlight. Sunning, on the other hand, was the daylight form of
"burning," but it could be practised only when the river was dead low,
and then not unless the weather were very calm and bright. The salmon,
as they lay in the clear, sun-lit water, were speared from a boat, and
vast numbers were so killed; indeed, the frightened fish had small
chance of escape, for spearing began at the pool's foot, and men with
leisters blocked the way of escape up stream. No doubt into this, as
into its kindred sport "burning," excitement in plenty, and boisterous
fun, entered largely; many a man, miscalculating the depth of water in
which a fish lay, to the unfeigned delight of his comrades, took a
rapid and involuntary header into the icy stream. But both sports
partook too much of the nature of butchery--carts used to be needed to
carry home the spoil--and they are "weel awa' if they bide.
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