2 ICHTHYOGRAPHY 



The general character of the fishable 

 portion is a succession of extensive pools, 

 connected by channels of various width, cut 

 by the force of the water through rocks of 

 limestone, which, in various strata, intersect 

 its course. The dip being to the northward, 

 the most abrupt parts lie on the northern 

 bank, that on the south being generally 

 more shelving. The bottoms of the pools 

 are gravelly. Those of the channels and 

 rapids are of rock, singularly jagged and un- 

 even. The body of water in the river is 

 considerable; and, as the fall between Belleek 

 and the sea is great, the force of the current 

 when contracted within these channels is 

 perfectly irresistible. In the short course 

 of five miles there are no less than four falls, 

 those of Rose Isle, the Captain's, Kathleen's, 

 and the Great Fall of Bally shannon, and be- 

 sides these there are numerous rapids. 



The pools are the resting-places of the 

 salmon, in their progress from the sea to the 

 head- waters and fords where they breed; 

 but, as their habit is to lie on the bottom, 

 the water here is generally too deep for them 

 to see the fly. They are mostly caught at the 



