104 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



has been cold or genial ; and the several lakes vary 

 also inter se, which is a great convenience to the fisher- 

 man ; but from the middle to the end of May is com- 

 monly about the time. The Westmeath lakes, when 

 the fly " is up/' will well repay a visit, as the fish, which 

 are at this time in the highest condition, run from two 

 to five, and sometimes ten pounds, and take the natural 

 fly freely ; and if the angler puts Dr. Peard's charming 

 little book, " A Year of Liberty," into his portmanteau, 

 he will need no abler or more agreeable guide. 



An analogous system to that above described is pur- 

 sued occasionally on some streams in England ; but on 

 others it is strictly prohibited, and on many hardly con- 

 sidered fair fishing. The circumstances of the two cases, 

 however, are entirely difl*erent. 



