6ALM0N ANGLING IN IRELAND. 108 



like. This should be done carefully, especially in the wind; so, 

 placing the half-finished parson between his lips, he gets up just at 

 the right time, and does his work with the usual neatness. '' Nigher 

 six than five and a half/' he observes, when calmly crimping the 

 unfortunate, "and the mistress shall have him roasted for lunch." 

 The sport soon grew admirable no quarter of an hour passed 

 without some event. Three were lost in succession by the mouth 

 giving way ; next five were secured without accident, of 21b., 31b., 

 S^lb., 51b., and o^lb., and then the best fish of the day was hooked. 

 How he laughed at the gossamer thread which held him ; it seemed 

 mere pastime to dart off with fifty yards, and throw a somersault 

 that would have made Blondin sick with envy ; but we must all die, 

 even as this strong and beautiful creature, who was put out of pain 

 so suddenly by a judicious rap on the occiput as not to hear the 

 executioner remark, "'Deed now, master, but he draws eight and 

 a half." About midday the breeze fell off, and the trout, after 

 " tiffin," lay down for a siesta under " the glassy, cool, transparent 

 wave," as Milton sings. The chef had not forgotten his gracious 

 promise, and proposed landing and lunch, an offer the entire ship's 

 crew hailed with three cheers. Did you never see fish roasted sub 

 Jove ? Well, I hope you soon will, of your own catching too ; 

 meanwhile, allow me to tell you how an experienced cook did it : 

 From yonder cabin some live coals, supported on an armful of peats, 

 are brought there are plenty of stones on the beach for our fire- 

 place the glowing cinders are piled in the centre, the turf arranged 

 on end in contact with them, and some bits broken to fill up the 

 crater. The mess consists of five, and the caterer serves out a 

 six-pounder and a four. The fish is ready as soon as the fire, cut 

 in slices, with a peeled osier inserted into each. These are placed 

 upright before the fire (supported by a long sod cut for the purpose), 

 and dexterously turned by the forefinger and thumb of the accom- 

 plished chef. If this meat be eaten, as good old Izaak says, with a 

 thankful heart and good appetite, in my opinion it won't disagree 

 with you. 



The boa, after sucking down a sheep, requires forty-eight hours' 



