74 WHA T I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



known by each member of every crew, and the 

 mutual greetings which were continually passing, 

 together with information given respecting their 

 catches, showed sympathy and confidence. 



We had passed these men several times on 

 previous days when they appeared very stand-offish, 

 but now they wore quite a different look and were 

 full of mirthful speech to us. 



There could be no doubt as to who was the 

 medium that had brought about so great a change. 

 Mr. Boyle would say something across the waves 

 that brought replies which he interpreted. These 

 brief conversations frequently ended in a request 

 for matches. Of course the lines were soon wound 

 in and we rowed to them, but after one or two such 

 visits to other boats, I noticed there was always 

 more desire to turn our catch over and inspect our 

 tackle than to get the articles asked for. Just a 

 word or two had worked a change from suspicious 

 watchfulness to a hearty welcome. 



I asked Mr. Boyle if he could explain so sudden 

 a change. His answer was : " Quite easily. The 

 rivers that empty into Teelin Bay have always 

 attracted salmon and sea-trout in quantities sufficient 

 to greatly aid the fisher-folk here to a livelihood, 

 without their having to risk their lives and property 

 in fishing for them in the Atlantic, the storms of 

 which so frequently drive them to shore and to 

 semi-idleness with its consequent privations. Can 

 you wonder then that these men have strong 



