80 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



is about nine miles long, by two or three in breadth. 

 Part of its shores are beautifully wooded ; and where 

 the lower and upper lakes unite, the channel is crossed 

 by a bridge of one arch, called the Pontoon ; and there 

 the scenery is indeed magnificent. 



Lough Carra is smaller than Conn ; but, as a sheet 

 of water, nothing can be more beautiful ; and every- 

 thing that the painter delights to fancy may here be 

 realised. Islands and peninsulas, with rich, over- 

 hanging woods, a boundless range of mountain masses 

 in the distance, and ruins in excellent keeping all these 

 form a splendid study for the artist's pencil. 



Mask communicates with Carra, and their united 

 waters discharge themselves into Lough Corrib by a 

 very curious subterraneous channel at Cong.* Lough 

 Corrib is largest of all ; it stretches twenty miles to its 

 southern extremity at Galway, where, through a bold, 

 rocky river, it discharges its waters into the Atlantic. 

 Its breadth is very variable, ranging from two to twelve 

 miles. Besides its singular connection with the Mayo 

 lakes by the underground channel at Cong, Lough Corrib 

 produces a rare species of Muscle, in which pearls are 

 frequently discovered. Many of them are said to 

 afford beautiful specimens of this valuable gem. 



The smaller lakes, which are so profusely scattered 

 over the surface of this country, vary in the species of 

 fish which they respectively produce, as much as they 

 do in their own natural size and character. Some of 

 them afford trout, others pike only, and many are stocked 



* " At Cong, about five miles from Ballinrobe, is a subterranean 

 cave, to which there is a descent of sixty-three steps, called the 

 Pigeon Hole ; at the bottom runs a clear stream, in which the trout 

 are seen sporting in the water ; these fish are never known to take 

 a bait, but are caught with landing-nets." Daniel. 



