114 A YEAR OF LIBERTY ; OR, 



fished under unfavourable circumstances ; but the blow-line when 

 properly managed rises above most of the difficulties created by 

 weather. With tackle of any other description sport would have 

 been almost an impossibility ; but with this, should there be only 

 the lightest conceivable air, a man will seldom return disappointed. 

 ]\Iore favourable atmospheric conditions will of course largely 

 contribute to the chances of success ; but the day in which an angler 

 writes in his diary the ominous word ''blank" must be bad indeed. 



During the past season four or five salmon were taken on this lake, 

 and one or two during the present ; but as yet the numbers are too 

 inconsiderable to make this fish of any importance. 



Within the next few years, perhaps, some future chronicler for 

 The Field may have to record, '' splendid grilse fishing on Lough 

 Key;" everywhere our wise law is producing fruit; good streams 

 are becoming better ; bad ones becoming good ; and rivers, now 

 exhausted, or by natural obstacles out of the reach of the most 

 adventurous salmon, here and there begin to show the first promise 

 of the coming harvest. Not only will that Act increase the number 

 of waters for sporting purposes, but it will do far more, it will 

 decrease the heavy rents hitherto demanded from the angler ; not 

 that I would be understood to imply that such charges were or are 

 exorbitant ; far from it ; the goods were exposed in a fair and open 

 market, and the prices asked cheerfully paid. Local reputation will 

 in many cases keep up for a time foiTaer terms ; but as in general 

 society the poor far outnumber the rich, so amongst the brotherhood 

 of the rod those who with difficulty make both ends meet greatly 

 exceed those who can bring the ends together, and moreover find a 

 good piece to lap over ; thus men who are unable to pay large sums 

 for their recreation will gradually hunt up new quarters, meet more 

 fortunate friends and proclaim their success, when it will be found 

 that many an impoverished lake and river has suddenly grown 

 wealthy, and is entitled to take rank with the best. The conse- 

 quence of these changes is sufficiently obvious ; there will be more 

 goods in the market, and the value of the stock must diminish in 

 the ratio of its quantity. 



