IRISH L OA CH- TROLLING. 29 



fario, either of full growth, if not moderated by the 

 action of a check-reel and the elasticity of the rod, 

 may be greater than that weakest part is able to 

 resist. To an angler acquainted with the subaqueous 

 topography of a lake, no instructions as to where he 

 should fish would be necessary. But the stranger, 

 ignorant of this knowledge, would be on a level with 

 a philosopher groping in the dark, or the mariner 

 sailing without a compass. Neither can the best and 

 fullest written directions ever compensate for the 

 absence of this information. Some few remarks, 

 however, upon this obscure subject, and the proper 

 trolling pace of the boat, may not be wholly useless. 

 Around the shores of a great lake, and of its islands 

 and sharps, if it contain these latter, there is a cer- 

 tain line or boundary at which, looking down per- 

 pendicularly from a boat, on a fine bright summer's 

 day, light and darkness will be observed to stand 

 face to face in well defined and fearful contrast. On 

 one side are seen the sloping sides of the great basin 

 itself, sleeping in sunshine ; on the other, nothing 

 but the impenetrable wall with which darkness 

 shrouds the mysteries of its depths. To follow this 

 line as nearly as circumstances permit, should be the 

 first object of the angler trolling for large trout. 

 There are of course exceptions ; and in some lakes 

 the central parts may be trolled with as much success 

 as the shores. But in all such cases the depth of the 



