SALMON ANQLINO IN IRELAND. 113 



The short time left at our disposal, therefore, must be divided 

 between Key and Arrow, probably the two best waters in Ireland 

 for blowline fishing. Whilst strolling over the pleasant mile and a 

 half which separates Boyle from the former water, I re-read a note 

 received on the morning of our leaving MuUingar, which, being 

 pre-eminently practical, is here presented to my friends : 



Boyle, May 25, 1865. 

 My dear Sir, You ask me to send you an account of my proceedings on 

 Lough Key. I do so with pleasure, but pray come and see for yourself. Let 

 mo, however, first say a few words about one day's angling there in the season 

 of 1864. My attendant was William Ross, an exceedingly intelligent and able 

 man, and with his help we killed (on the occasion referred to) five-and-twenty 

 trout, eight of which were above 71b. each, and twelve others over 41b. each. 

 This was, Ross said, one of the best bags almost ever made. 



'' Never mind the rest of the note " crushing it into my pocket. 

 '' A great achievement has been wrought ; what was done once, may 

 be done again ; and who knows, eh Willie ! but that we may be the 

 fortunate individuals ?" With a longer stride I hastened on ; there 

 stood the field of battle, and we resolved, if possible, to go in and 

 win. Unlike Lough Gara, the water on whose margin we stood is 

 private property, and, as neither cross-lines nor nets are allowed, 

 it is indeed an angling paradise, where no evil thing comes. The 

 drakes had been "up" about ten days, and were now sitting on 

 almost every leaf, or sunning themselves on nearly every stone. The 

 excessive heat which cheered them chilled our hopes ; to-day would 

 not see the crowning victory. Well, life may not be one long 

 triumph, and the best soldier can but do his duty. Over the blue 

 waters we drifted with a lazy motion, passing many a lovely island 

 whose name should not be unrecorded here ; Church, Orchard, 

 Sally, Stag, and Crane, and many others, were noticed (I like to be 

 accurate), for we did not land on any : who would, with such a letter 

 in his pocket ? But we must not linger on description. Considering 

 the weather, we did wonders, two rods taking twelve good fish, the 

 three best being a trifle under 191b. Two more happy days were 

 spent on Lough Key, during which the sun forgot himself, and 

 behaved as he ought to have done in the tropics. Of course we 



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