SALMON ANOLINa IN IRELAND. 08 



fisli are, however, very small. There is some knack in casting after 

 dark ; the delivery must be particularly neat and clean, or the artist 

 will speedily find himself in a fix, with very little chance of getting 

 out of it. The lake holds brown trout of superior size and quality ; 

 and if, as Brother Michael maintains, "as is the redness, so is the 

 goodness," they must be good indeed. 



At the present season the angler has to make his election between 

 the river and the lake between the fly and the troll. Although 

 often halting a short time at Eosbeigh, on my way to other stations, 

 I had never remained except once, and then during the latter part 

 of a season, about six years ago. True it is, every winter I vowed to 

 try the Carra in the spring, but never kept that vow until now. My 

 prime minister is violently anxious to try the fly, and, as he always 

 gets his way, we shall make our debut on the river as soon as breakfast 

 is over. 



For two entire days we flogged the uncomplaining Caita without 

 success. The fine rocky pools doubtless held salmon, but we could 

 make nothing of them, for, in sixteen hours' thrashing, we rose only 

 two shy fish, nor am I sure that either of these were fresh* 



The lake is a noble sheet of water, and right glad was I to stand 

 on its shores. The wash of the waves on the strand sounded fresh 

 and musical after the monotony of the last two days ; and with the 

 first roll of the boat half our vexations were forgotten. 



The plan proposed was to pull in and out along the east and south 

 sides, and then fish as much of the west as we could. When we 

 reached the head of the lake we had three runs ^all trout; and near 

 the outfall of Blackstones a small fresh fish, under 8lb., was added 

 to the stock : but, like good simple souls, we were easily pleased, and 

 when the day was over, seven trout added to our salmon made us 

 as happy as kings. The lakers were by no means large ; the best 

 only weighed 4^1b,. whilst the remaining half-dozen did not make 

 collectively 81b. 



All the next day the rain fell heavily ; to go out would have been 

 worse than useless, so the hours were devoted to domestic felicity. 

 My dear companion had been busy as a bee. Con'espondence long 



