80 A YEAE OF LIBERTY ; OE, 



be the use of my writing at all ? Well, then, on this thread of 

 single gilt are two treble hooks (not over large) an inch and a half 

 apart. Insert the end of the thread through the vent of the we 

 were going to say parr ; but that could not be, as the law is dead 

 against it and bring it out at the mouth. This small piece of lead 

 has, as you see, a brass pin at the bottom and a brass eye at the top ; 

 pass the free end of the gut through the eye, and bury the lead in 

 the mouth of the bait ; put a stitch through the loop, including the 

 upper and lower jaw ; then with the thumb and forefinger give the 

 requisite curve, and the business is done. Before you drop it over 

 the side, observe the length of the loop on the trace tight fits do 

 not answer for boat work on cold days in March. 



As I said before, John stopped to light his pipe ; the example was 

 contagious, and, with incense reeking from four altars, and zealous 

 invocations to Fortune, the baits were dropped into the water, and 

 the first act on Lough Currane began. 



We took two courses round Church Island, but did nothing, so we 

 proceeded to call at the best lodges on the eastern shore, where our 

 luck began to mend, and by three o'clock ten good trout were in the 

 bag ; but not a salmon, nor the sight of one. Another hour passed, 

 and the faces of master and men grew longer and bluer. To add to 

 our distress, John's symptoms pointed to a severe attack of colic. At 

 this critical moment both rods were run simultaneously. There was 

 no mistake about it ; we were fast in two salmon. 



I believe, on my honour, that a Waterville spring fish fights more 

 desperately than any salmon of his weight elsewhere. In the pre- 

 sent case they fully justified our good opinion. Two fish hooked at 

 the same time require careful handling ; and more than once, when 

 they crossed, we were obliged to pass one rod over the other, and 

 exchange, to avoid fouling. It cost us nearly half an hour before 

 both were secured. New remedies are brought to light every day, 

 but I first learned this afternoon that the struggles of an unlucky 

 animal were a sovereigii cure for colic. 



In this benighted region, when a salmon dies, certain ceremonies 

 &re wont to be perfonjaed, the most imposing of which appefvrs to be 



