In Connemara. 47 



a-dozen trout alone rewarded our day's fishing, 

 two of which turned half a pound, and one was, 

 fortunately for our breakfast, a "jackeen." By 

 this name are those spirited little fellows, small 

 sea-trout, known in the west of Ireland, which, 

 for their size and strength, are the gamest fish 

 that swim. Now if, as is the case on some of 

 the lakes, considerable expense has been gone 

 to for the sake of this day's fishing, a wan- 

 dering angler might well feel disgusted. But 

 who, with such weather, could hope, in such a 

 season and after such a summer as that of 1876, 

 for better, or indeed any sport ? The next day 

 seemed rather more favourable, though the 

 wind was bitterly cold, which boded ill for the 

 feeding propensities of the trout. But before 

 luncheon, a little basket of a dozen had been 

 collected, which averaged about a quarter of a 

 pound apiece. After luncheon the great cold 

 was explained, for there came a heavy down- 

 pour of rain; but three hours' fishing again 

 brought another dozen, including a pretty white 

 trout well over half a pound in weight, and 

 three or four smaller fish of the same kind. Of 

 course this was not much of a day's sport as 

 compared with many that are experienced in this 



