226 LOUGH DERG. 



in talking, smoking, or sleeping, as best 

 suited their genius and inclinations. The 

 two fishermen were seated on a projecting 

 rock, with their feet hanging over the 

 water. 



" If ever an otter is admissible," said the 

 Parson, " it is so on such a lake as this. 

 You certainly never get a dav's fair fishing 

 here." 



" That is what people always say when- 

 ever they happen to have a bad day's sport," 

 replied the Captain ; " they protest against 

 the otter generally, but think that an ex- 

 ception ought to be made in their own par- 

 ticular case. My opinion is, that it ought 

 to be contraband altogether ; it is merely 

 drawing upon principle. A man gets a good 

 day's fishing with it, if such clumsy work 

 can be called fishing, and this lasts just till 

 the fish are up to it, and no longer ; after 

 which it turns out that he has made the fish 

 shy, spoiled his own sport, and ruined that 

 of his neighbours entirely. If I had my will, 

 every otter-fisher should be solemnly ducked ; 

 and I would begin with the Squire." 



" They do that same, I am told, on some 

 of the Scotch lakes," said the Parson. 



