SALMON ANGLING IN lEELAND. 19 



islands and over reefs we pulled with determined perseverance, but 

 no further fortune ; and when we stepped out of the boat our friend's 

 parting words were emphatic : " Be early to-morrow, your honour ; 

 for your life be early!" The two following days we worked to the 

 admiration of our energetic attendant ; the reward, however, was by 

 no means in the ratio of our deserts, as we landed only one small fish 

 of 81b., and an ill-conditioned trout of about half that weight. 



The omission was, perhaps, culpable ; but I breathed no benediction 

 on the cross-lines. 



To the best of my belief I have spoken justly, though not flatter- 

 ingly, of the single rod fishing on the lake in spring. In summer 

 the lines are popularly supposed to disappear ; possibly they do, or 

 perhaps they rise very early in the lovely mornings of June and July. 

 Be this as it may, the single rod grilse-fishing is veiy fair, and the 

 quarters, perhaps, more luxurious than any other in the island. 



Beautiful Killamey, adieu! thy charms must no longer enthral 

 me ; yet where in nature shall I see a face like thine ? Glorious are 

 thy mountains, pellucid thy lakes, set with their fairy islets, draped 

 in many colours, each one a marvel and a mystery. But, upon my 

 life, I can't stand it. The lines are too mighty to be resisted ; and 

 as discretion is the better part of valour, we shall retreat to Lough 

 Currane (better kno^vn as Watemlle), and take the Laune and Carra 

 by the way. 



The road traversed by the mail-car follows the course of the 

 Laune closely, at a Jikely part of wliich it pulls up, and leaves us to 

 follow the river down to Killorglin. Not knowing the water, we 

 worked over all the streams and pools that came in our way, asking 

 questions when opportunity offered. This, though a pleasant mode, 

 is seldom a profitable one, as much time is wasted on barren water. 

 However, we rose two fish ; that both were fresh I should be 

 unwilling to assert, but the 7lb. salmon in the basket had, at any 

 rate, a fine batch of parasites near the ventral fin. 



In a fomier chapter I hinted at the advantage of selecting a 

 central situation as a matter of economy. Killorglin is one of such, 

 for east, west, and jiorth are excellent waters, TlirougU the vjUjiga 



P 2 



