SALMON ANGLING IN IRELAND. 156 



stocking still in the leather, from which by main force he had screwed 

 out the imprisoned member. 



In a salmon river, where one fish lodges there are sure to be others ; 

 so we trudged back to the point from which we started, and worked 

 over the water for the second time. 



" That's remarkable nate un-common illigant," in a pleased 

 soliloquy, as a short stout fish, feeling the steel, executed a per- 

 pendicular leap, quivering for an instant high in air. " Thim 

 trouts is fit to do a'most anything. Murther, but he's at it agen." 

 A vigorous fish of this species is, weight for weight, stronger 

 than a salmon, and requires delicate handling not that I mis- 

 trusted the little black palmer, for O'Shaughnessy is always 

 true ; yet there was considerable uncertainty as to the " catch " 

 being sufiicient. Minute after minute passed, and at length the 

 captive found all his strength barely sufficient to enable him to 

 keep his head under water. Gradually the broad tail worked 

 more and more feebly over the surface. Now he is almost within 

 reach of a gaff that never strikes in vain, and now his race is run. 



Laying down the rod, I walked up to my companion who was 

 stooping over the fish with an aspect in which astonishment and 

 mortification were ludicrously blended. 



"It am't one after all, master." 



" What is it then ? " for the speaker stood between me and the 

 prize. 



" He's only a grilse." 



Imagination within proper limits is doubtless an excellent quality, 

 but ours had been boundless ; we expected to find spring trout in 

 the river, and information correctly given, but imperfectly under- 

 stood, completed the delusion. The en-or, however, was mine 

 fancy converted a fallacy into a fact a well made summer salmon 

 into a spring trout. 



Subsequently we learned that this water does not contain these 

 fish, a few small summer trout excepted, which rarely attain a 

 greater weight than three quarters of a pound. Although the renewal 

 of our acquaintance with the white trout, had been thus unexpectedly 



