IRELAND 179 



and December. About three years ago the protection 

 of the river was taken up by the newly-appointed 

 Conservators. There has been no destruction of fish 

 since ; but it has required a large staff of bailiffs 

 continually on the river to attain this end. Mr. 

 Montserrat suggests that compensation should be 

 exacted from the townlands adjoining the waters 

 where fish have been destroyed. " In this district," 

 he adds, "we have now a hatchery, and we trust 

 that during the coming season our river may begin 

 to regain its old popularity as one of the best in 

 Ireland." 



The ERNE, in County Donegal, since the drainage 

 of Lough Erne about sixteen years ago, has suffered 

 a falling-off in its stock of fish. The season of 1905, 

 however, was exceptionally good. That was deemed 

 a symptom of recovery. The four miles of this 

 beautiful river from Belleek to Ballyshannon are con- 

 sidered to be, during July, August, and September, 

 one of the best waters in the north of Ireland. The 

 Erne, carefully looked after by a Board of Conser- 

 vators, is free from chemical or other pollution. 



That statement, kindly sent by Mr. Joseph 

 Thompson, Ballyshannon, is supplemented by an 

 important note from Mr. John Swan, Manager of 

 the Erne Fisheries. "There has," Mr. Thompson 

 says, " been a great increase of drift-net fishing in 

 the sea and at the mouth of the river. The drift 

 nets capture more than half the salmon making for 

 the various rivers on the north and west coasts of 

 Ireland. This, as far as I know, is the only cause 



