■to 



137 



liooks came back, minus his live-bait. To attempt to convey 

 iin}^ idea of his lamentations would be useless — he moaned 

 and vowed that he had lost the biggest pike in Ireland. 

 After repairing his tackle I threw over the same ground 

 where the big hsh had been lost, and at the second cast the 

 invitation was accepted. After a few minutes' play Mike 

 gaffed the pike, a twelve-pounder, and hanging out of his 

 mouth was the missing part of Mike's tackle and also his 

 lost bait — I had caught his so-called "Monster"! Mike 

 collapsed completely and never said another word until we 

 neared home, when he pleadingly asked, " Your honour 

 won't give the boys the laugh of me about the big pike — 

 plaze don't tell 'em, your honour." And I did not, but I 

 feel sure that Mike will tell the story without the sequel 

 when I am gone, and excite the envy of " the boys," by de- 

 scribing how he hooked and lost the monster pike that 

 swallowed the grej'hound and chased the shoemaker to his 

 liome. 



The Bush is one of the most prolific salmon rivers in Ire- 

 land, and some idea of its beauty will be gathered from 

 our illustrations. This is a mountain- fed stream, and, un- 

 like most Irish rivers, there is no lough at the head of the 

 river. As a consequence, the water quickly runs down, and 

 equally as a consequence, the salmon crowd together in 

 enormous masses in the pools, where they become di"eadfully 

 diseased. I have seen them netted out in such a loathsome 

 state that they had to be buried and made into manure. As 

 the fishing on this charming little fly river is in private 

 hands — and as it changes hands very frequently — the 

 would-be angler should take up his quarters in the village of 

 Bush Mills, and here ascertain on the spot who is the person 

 to apply to. It is a matter of payment, and not of favour ; 

 I)ut the terms are very reasonable. 



From Portrush to Bush Mills, and thence to the Giant's 

 Causeway, there is an electric tramcar running, and the 

 Bush is, therefore, very easy of access from the Bann. There 

 is a local fly-dresser in the village of Bush Mills, whose name 

 escapes my memory, but he lives two or three doors from 

 the hotel. 



