SALMON ANGLINa IN IBELAND. 193 



water from end to end, pricking and lacerating six or seven grilse for 

 every one dragged out sometimes casting into dou'tful little runs 

 and eddies, where it was just possible a fish might be found we 

 worked on till we could endure it no longer. In many lands, and 

 during many years. I have seen as much fishing as most men, but I 

 am bound to say that at Galway I beheld something new. I cannot 

 say I liked it, and must observe that, had one of those sportsmen 

 pursued his pastime in such fashion elsewhere, he would have run 

 considerable risk of being taken up for poaching ; nor will I deny 

 that in my opinion he would have richly earned a month at the 

 treadmill. There is no accounting for taste, but in common honesty 

 let no such performers again send the results of their angling for 

 publication to any of our sporting journals. Of course, if a man 

 enjoys the rare privilege of hooking salmon by the tail instead of by 

 the head, he may use his opportunity ; but let him call his achieve- 

 ment by its right name, and say, " I have murdered so many, but in 

 fair fight I have vanquished none." Notwithstanding the heavy 

 odds against us, in one sense we were unusually fortunate, killing 

 every fish that showed at the fly ; true it is we had but six rises five 

 from white trout and one by a grilse ; but it was some comfort in our 

 disquiet to have done all that could be done. After a somewhat 

 early dinner, it yet wanted between four and five hours to sundown. 

 To lionise the place was impossible, for that had been done already 



in a former visit ; to face Mr. G and his friends again was not 



to be thought of ; so, after due deliberation, it was determined to 

 take boat and paddle over the neck of the lake between the town and 

 Sir Thomas Blake's. Once on a time this stretch of water offered 

 admirable salmon angling, but for some years past it has not given a 

 fish to the rod. Unless the bottom had been changed by the deposi- 

 tion of new matter, or some considerable alteration had taken place 

 in the depth of the water, I never knew fish desert lodges which had 

 been used from time immemorial. I was unable to ascertain that 

 either of these agencies had been in operation here, and yet it was 

 as certain that the space between the back of the cribs and Sir 

 Thomas Blake's mansion contained excellent salmon casts not long 



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