IRELAND 201 



Golden Village to Holy Cross is very good. The 

 fish run to very high weights. I have known a few 

 6 Ibs., and have myself caught one that weight. 

 I have had many varying from 4 Ibs. to 4J Ibs. 

 I think I have a ' record ' in respect of a 4 \ Ibs. fish 

 taken on a dry fly, a very small Iron Blue. Sir 

 Edward Grey was the first man that ever cast a 

 dry fly on the Suir. He had wonderful sport. It 

 was hearing of his performances that induced me to 

 try what I could do with the dry fly, and I have 

 ever since been blessing his name for many a day's 

 sport, especially since the salmon fishing was over. 

 The trout, alas ! are much fewer than they were 

 thirty years ago. This seems due to sudden and 

 violent floods, consequent upon modern agricultural 

 drainage, which tear up the spawn beds. 



" Hatcheries should not be necessary on the Suir. 

 The natural spawning beds would be ample for the 

 purpose if they were protected. This will be seen 

 when some Government realises the great value of 

 salmon rivers, and undertakes the management of all 

 that are in Ireland. The Irish Boards of Con- 

 servators have neither sufficient funds nor time 

 enough to look after the business efficiently. There 

 should be an Irish Fishery Department and some 

 one, with a good salary and full authority, responsible 

 for the proper preservation of every river. Such a 

 Department would be more than self-supporting. 

 It would be a source of considerable revenue to the 

 Government." 



The NORE, rising in the north-west of Tipperary, 



