IRELAND 177 



of the river at Killaloe was 22 Ibs. In 1903 the 

 spring fish were fewer and about a fourth less each 

 in weight on the average. The peal fishing, however, 

 was exceptionally good. 1904 was an average year 

 for both spring and summer fish. 1905, owing to 

 floods in the spring, was very poor for heavy fish ; 

 but the peal season was good. I think the Shannon 

 is a somewhat exceptional river. Probably only a 

 very small percentage of the fish which pass into 

 Lough Derg ever return. The river itself has many 

 good spawning grounds, and my belief is that but 

 for these it would soon cease to be a salmon river of 

 importance. The amount of protection by watching 

 the streams in the spawning season is inadequate. 

 On the whole, I should say the stock of fish has been 

 somewhat larger since 1900 than it was for some 

 years before that time ; and I attribute this to 

 greater diligence on the part of the watchers." 



Mr. Frederick C. Henry, London, who fishes from 

 the other side of the river at Killaloe, believes that 

 there is a falling-off both in stock of fish and in 

 sport. " The principal cause," he says, " is increased 

 netting at the mouth. A secondary cause, which 

 principally affects the sport, is the erection of the 

 flood gates at the foot of Lough Derg. These gates 

 are opened and shut without adequate reason, and 

 cause sudden rises and falls, which ruin the fishing. 

 I think, generally speaking, that there is a slight 

 improvement in the public sense of the importance 

 of enforcing laws against poaching ; but there is still 

 much to be desired in this respect" 



12 



