1X2 A YEAR OF liberty; OB, 



waiting an unconscionable time at the outskirts of the town, whilst 

 I have been flying over the country and twittering on the parish 

 church. 



My friend thinks we shall find matters rather dull on Gara, as it 

 is the earliest lake in the neighbourhood. Nor do I doubt the 

 correctness of his opinion, for the fly rises on this extensive sheet of 

 water about the 8th or 10th of May, so that by this time the fish are 

 sure to be suffering from indigestion, the product of over-indulgence. 

 Nor, indeed, is Gara, under even the most favourable circumstances, 

 comparable either to Lough Key or Arrow, as its trout are com- 

 paratively small, and suffer much both from nets and cross-lines. 

 Still I was anxious to spend one day on its broad bosom, visit the 

 islands, and make its beauty mine for ever. A pleasant walk of 

 forty minutes brought us to the lake, where we launched, and 

 paddled off to the best fishing-ground, some two miles lower down. 

 There is to me a peculiar charm in all islands, for they seem to 

 possess peace without dullness solitude without desolation not to 

 be found elsewhere. Derrybeg, Annough, Mackmoragh, Inchmore, 

 and many others all tempted us, when sport failed, to land ; but 

 the sergeant was of a temperament so hopeful as always to be 

 convinced there was a flaw of wind somewhere else, the consequence 

 of which was, that no sooner had I begun to get cool and com- 

 fortable than I was hurried off in doubtful chase after some fugitive 

 breeze. All that men could do, we did ; and whilst a chance existed, 

 persevered ; and when compelled to desist could only count between 

 us seven fish, not one of which exceeded 31b. 



It has been already observed that the drake does not appear 

 simultaneously on all the Mullingar lakes, but, obeying some invari- 

 able natural law, rises first on one and then on another, which, by 

 the way, is an excellent arrangement for the angler. Here also the 

 same mysterious order is observed, the insect coming into " mid 

 air" first on Gara, next on Lough Key, and lastly on the Arrow, 

 where it remains nearly to the middle of June. To attend the 

 funeral obsequies of fair May-fly is impossible, as we have made 

 an-angements to be at Ballyshannon by the 7th or 8th of the month. 



