134 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



knew almost to a day, and they know now in many 

 places, and make cruel use of their knowledge, 

 when the deep lakes below will send up their shoals 

 of ripe fish, and the spots, to a yard, which they 

 will occupy. They have learnt every lesson in the 

 craft that is necessary to aid them in taking whole- 

 sale what they desire. 



I have given this matter of poaching some 

 attention during each of my visits to Ireland, and, 

 though I have not at all times been able to extract 

 much definite information on the subject from those 

 whose lives are spent on the banks of rivers, I have 

 learnt, I believe, to properly interpret such scraps 

 as they have let fall in moments of pressure or 

 in times of heated promulgation of the faith, which 

 is rooted in them, that they have right on their 

 side. 



Nothing that can be said is likely to convince 

 the Irish people that this right is not one of the 

 few things left to them. This universal feeling 

 is given expression to in the few words taken out 

 of a letter from Mr. J. Boyle, the Teelin school- 

 master : 



" I have heard my father speak and I have read my country's 

 history, and I know I have the right to fish and shoot when and 

 where I like." 



I am not sure that his sentiments would not 

 be mine were I an Irishman. I feel almost sure 

 they would. 



To ask men into whose daily life religion is 



