336 TUBBER TURNER. 



taken from the protection of its aboriginal 

 patron .saint ; and among the fishermen at 

 least, and their followers, called popularly 

 Tubber Turner, or Turner's Well. 



The Parson was kneeling on the turf by the 

 side of the little spring; he was busily engaged 

 in the useful but somewhat dirty occupation 

 of crimping a fine twelve-pounder salmon, 

 which, notwithstanding the brightness of the 

 day, he had succeeded in eliciting from the 

 neighbouring rapid of Earl's Throw. This 

 operation, which is performed by thoroughly 

 cleansing the newly-killed fish, making some 

 eight or ten transverse cuts in it on each 

 side down to the very back-bone, and sub- 

 jecting it when thus prepared to the action 

 of the coldest water procurable, adds not a 

 little to its firmness and delicacy, and is the 

 only certain method of preserving between 

 its flakes the snow-white curd, that perish- 

 able luxury that is never attainable except 

 on the banks of a salmon river, and that 

 requires pretty good cookery to secure it 

 even there.* 



* On the Shannon they crimp one side only of the 

 fish, which answers the purpose perfectly, and does no 

 spoil the appearance of it. 



