

PREFACE. 



The "Yeab op Libebtt," is as nearly as possible what the title 

 imports namely, a period of recreation after toil. During many 

 entire seasons the Author, rod in hand, had rambled over the length 

 and breadth of Ireland, seeing much and learning much, on all 

 matters connected with his favourite sport. With the advantage 

 of past experience, he again visited the island in 1865, pausing for a 

 time at nearly all the first-class salmon rivers and lakes, arriving 

 at each when in the highest order for angling. This plan often 

 necessitated passing more than once through districts previously 

 traversed, but as sport was the primary object of his visit, this 

 was of little moment, for what was lost in order was more than 

 compensated by success. 



Whatever faults the work may possess, the writer at least lays 

 claim to accuracy. That which he saw, he endeavoured to describe 

 faithfully, and any reader who follows in his steps, and visits the 

 various waters at the periods referred to, may safely calculate on 

 sport. 



It does not, however, necessarily follow that statements which 

 were true in 1865, should be so in 1867, for the constant tendency 



