unusual hose?

[Jock Scot]

Wow, interesting photo! I notice they are all wearing matching windowpane tweed(?) kilts and matching jackets (see the piping on the cuffs which is very distinct). I wonder what kind of uniform this was? Obviously civilian, not military, but also very obviously coordinated with the kilts and jackets. They each seem to have their own flair with hose and headwear.

The fishing gear mixed with shepherd's crooks is confusing me.

The front row are Estate staff in Estate attire, I suspect that the hose were knitted by a local lady who was probably/possibly related to those wearing that distinctive pattern. The Laird, or perhaps the lucky fellow who caught the large Pike in the foreground is in the background

The front row with the crooks(cromachs in the Highlands) are in fact gaffs. Large sharp hooks that until fairly recently, were used to drag a large fish out of the water, and very efficient they were too, although no good for the modern "catch and release" that is so common now. The chap front row, left of picture may have a cromach to hand-----it looks too narrow---- and I suspect it may be a gaff with the sharp and lethal hook covered with a safety cover.