SALMON ANGLING IN IRELAND. 190 



above one hundred cranes. A full-grown otter can eat 365 salmon 

 at ten pounds each in one year, provided he dine off salmon every 

 day, and a crane can swallow fifty or so of smolts for breakfast. 

 As these have been destroyed, and as there was no netting last, and 

 will be none in the coming, season, I anticipate seeing the best sport 

 ever witnessed in Ireland. Last season I saw one of the lessees kill 

 forty-two sea-trout and two salmon with his own rod in one day. 

 The sea-trout are in abundance and afford excellent sport. The 

 fishing opens on the 1st of February and closes on the last day of 

 October, but I cannot say there is good sport before June, and July 

 is still better. Although the fish come into the lakes at any time, I 

 never saw many up before June, but as they increase I have no doubt 

 they will come earlier, and then May will become a good month. I 

 propagated in this river last season nearly 400,000 salmon, and, all 

 being well, shall put down a million ova next spawning-time. The 

 accommodation for gentlemen will be first-rate. A new house has 

 been built, which will be opened on the Ist of May. There are 

 seven bedi'ooms besides dining and drawing-rooms ; it has been 

 built expressly for the comfort of anglers. It stands at the 

 head of a sea lough, five miles from the Cross-roads, and within a 

 quarter of a mile of some of the best fishing. As regards the board, 

 I expect it will be very moderate. The scenery round the lakes of 

 the Screebe is very picturesque, though there is not as much wood in 

 the neighbourhood as would make a skewer. You see nothing but 

 water, bog, rock, and hiUs." 



The laws laid down for the guidance of the infant states are so 

 excellent I make no apology for giving them in extenso : 



1. The price of each ticket for a single rod to be three guineas a week, this 

 BTun to include the use of boats and of a funiished lodge at Screebe. 



2. Anglers may keep the fish they catcla, except when otherwise stated in 

 the rules. 



3. No cross-line fishing or snatching allowed. 



4. No gaffs allowed ; landing-nets will be provided with the boats. 



5. AU spent fish to be returned to the water. 



6. Water bailiffs to be always employed as boatmen, and paid l*. 6d. per day 

 each. 



