CHAPTEE IX. 



THE FALLS OF BALLYSHANNON. 



The Great Falls — The Salmon Leap— The Slob- weirs 

 again in Action — Law and Justice not always iden- 

 tical — Course of the Salmon at Sea — Discoveries in 

 their Natural History — Peculiarities in the Nature 

 of Private Property in Fisheries — Reasons for these 

 Peculiarities — Effects of the Discoveries on the 

 Markets — An Irishman always sets himself against 

 the Law — Reasons for this — Real 'Justice to Ireland' 

 — Foul-weather Jack — The Squire's Dream comes 

 true — Reade's Throw. 



It was the invariable custom of the fisher- 

 men to assemble on Sunday evenings at the 

 Great Falls, whenever the weather per- 

 mitted. This place was their regular coffee- 

 house or gossip -shop, where the events of 

 the week, the state of the weather, the 

 prospects of the fishing, and other topics of 

 local politics, were discussed. And on the 

 evening of the trial the whole party were 



