40 



the fly. By some thia circumstance was attributed to tbe "mannd," or peaty 

 stain in the water, by others to the heavy luri»l atmosphere which prevailed. 

 The same circumstance was noticed on the Shannon, and the year was there 

 called " Cummer's year," after an Irishman, who prophesied the advent of a year 

 when " there should be plenty of fish, but de'il a one would rise." May and 

 November were the only really dry months in the past year, and it seemed that 

 we had at length broken through the rule which prevailed in previous years, fo 

 alternate long spells of wet and dry weather. 



