186 



part of the contents oi his basket, but refused to part with the whole. 

 The soldiers persisted, and from words came to blows. The gallant Scot 

 resisted these odds, though with no better weapon than the butt-end 

 of his fishing rod, put the invaders to flight, and brought home his 

 fish safe and sound. The brotherhood of the angle have the character 

 of being of a peaceable disposition, and in these days will hardly 

 quarrel with any on the score of a few fish : those of the fraternity in 

 Ireland would rejoice to see their English and Scottish brethren invad- 

 ing their land, armed with rod and line, and intent on carrying off a 

 larger basketful than themselves. 



The effect of the observance of the " weekly close time," in allowing 

 a fair share of the fish to ascend to the upper waters has, in districts 

 where it has been properly observed, greatly increased the number of 

 persons who fish in the fresh water streams for sport or as a means of 

 livelihood. By the return of licences taken out last year, it appears 

 that 763 licences for salmon rods were sold. The number for the pre- 

 sent year will probably be far more. In the Wexford district 1 6 were 

 taken out last year, and upwards of 50 in the present. There are a 

 considerable number of men throughout Ireland who follow the calling 

 of taking fish by rod and line, and earn their living by that means, 

 and by attending upon sportsmen. In some rivers, and at some periods, 

 the occupation is remunerative enough. It is stated in recent evidence 

 that thirty-four salmon were killed in sixteen days by one man. 

 Forty-six is the largest number which is stated to have been taken in 

 one week by a single rod. 



To revert to views that have been so frequently expressed, as to the 

 policy of encouraging a spirit of protection in the upper portions of 

 rivers, by rendering them sufficiently productive to make the pursuit 

 of fishing in those districts a frequent pastime for the gentry, and a 

 source of lucrative occupation to numerous practised and professional 

 anglers, although it is hard to imagine that many Irish rivers, long 

 neglected, will become so populous in fish as to insure the latter desir- 

 able result, nevertheless, it must be admitted that this object should 

 be held in view, and that endeavours should be made in that direction; 

 in effect, to give those who can best protect the weak points, the nurseries 

 of fisheries, an interest in, and a will for the purpose, so as to enlist 

 country gentlemen as voluntary conservators, and, if possible, convert 

 poachers and spearers into water bailiffs and innocuous fishermen. 



The resort of British gentlemen to Ireland for the indulgence of the 

 simple and gratifying recreation of Angling, which brings them in 

 contact with the Irish peasantry under agreeable circumstances, and 

 when the pleasures of the pursuit warm the hearts of different grades 

 of men towards each other, might often result in their visits being 

 prolonged into permanent residence, and in valuable advantages to this 

 country, which their adoption of it would certainly give rise to. 



XIV. 

 NOTES on SALMON FISHERIES. 



" There are no fewer than forty-two salmon weirs on the Blackwater 

 between Youghal and Lismore; the one immediately under the castle 

 is the last and most productive ; where it is by no means rare to take 



