112 Salmon Fishing. 



could hardly say of him, in the words of a 

 famous angler, 



"The princely fish is gasping slow, 

 His brilliant colours come and go, 

 All beautifully blended." 



The whole of Dan's experience of fish and 

 fishing, it seemed, was confined to the Clady, 

 and he accordingly looked a bit disappointed, 

 when I said little, if anything in unison with the 

 praises he was so busy in bestowing, not only on 

 the fish just killed, but the rod, the line, and in 

 fact the whole of my fishing paraphernalia. 

 " The finest rod in all Ireland," was the remark 

 I not only heard from him, but a host of young 

 fellows besides I fell in with on the banks of the 

 river. Be it so, I thought within myself; if it 

 pleases you, it cannot matter to me, though 

 amused at your simplicity. 



I merely mention these trifles incidentally, to 

 shew what cheery, good-hearted fellows I ever 

 found the Irish peasants to be. An unreserved 

 chat with them, accompanied by a few little acts 



