FISH FOUND IN MAYO. 77 



is remarkable for having a gizzard resembling that of 

 a large fowl or turkey." He also says : — " It is usual 

 to dress the gizzards only, which are considered as very 

 favourite morsels." 



It is true that the scientific angler generally confines 

 himself to the use of the fly, and for salmon and trout 

 he will forego the commoner department of bait and 

 float fishing. Hence, angling for pike and perch is 

 usually an amusement of the peasantry ; and to those 

 contiguous to the banks of the large lakes, it yields 

 occupation for idle hours, which might be less inno- 

 cently dissipated, and occasionally supplies their 

 families with a welcome addition to their unvarying 

 food, the potato. 



Besides the established system of bait-fishing, other 

 and more successful methods are resorted to by the 

 lake-fishers. By mesh-nets immense numbers of pike 

 are annually taken ; and with night-lines, and a very 

 simple contrivance called the pooka ^ these fish, with the 

 largest trout and perch, are constantly killed. 



This latter implement is formed of a piece of flat 

 board, having a little mast and sail erected on it. Its 

 use is to carry out the extremity of a long line of con- 

 siderable stoutness, to which, at regulated distances, 

 an infinity of droppers or links are suspended, each 

 armed with a hook and bait. Corks are affixed to the 

 principal line or hack^ to keep it buoyant on the surface ; 

 and from a weather-shore, if there be a tolerable breeze, 

 any quantity of hooks and baits can be floated easily 

 across the water. The corks indicate to the fishermen 

 when a fish is on the dropper, and in a small punt or 

 curraghy he attends to remove the spoil and renew the 

 baits when necessary. Two hundred hooks may be 



