FISHING STATIONS— IRELAND. 



381 



small lugsail is carried wlicn a fair wind can be had. 

 The currag'hs float like bubbles on the water, and Avould 

 be likely to be blown away but for the great command 

 over them gained by the use of the four pairs of oars, 

 and the weight of a good crew to give them some hold 

 on the water. We have found by experience in them 

 that even in fine weather the raised bow makes it a 

 little difficult to keep a straight course when there is 

 any head wdnd ; but they are admirably handled by the 

 fishermen, and when properly trimmed and each man 

 has his oars at work, they will go through an almost 

 incredible amount of bad weather. 



Cluragh. 



These canoes cost about bl. each, and a couple of men 

 will turn them over and carry them on their heads 

 without any difficulty whatever. They are used for the 

 line-fishing, and for that purpose are often taken well 

 out to sea. 



The Dingle men are as a rule steady and industrious, 

 well used to the sea, and more worthy of the name of 

 fishermen than many who are called so elsewhere on 

 the Irish coast. There, then, we may hope for an im- 

 ])rovement and a further development of the fisheries 



