176 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



The sand-eels are generally from four to nine inches 

 in length, and lie beneath the surfac,e seldom deeper 

 than a foot. The method of taking them is very simple ; 

 it is effected by passing a case-knife or sickle with a 

 blunted edge quickly through the sands , and by this 

 means the fish is brought to the surface, and its phos- 

 phoric brilliancy betrays it instantly. At the particular 

 times during the summer months when these eels run 

 in upon the estuary, quantities sufficient to fill several 

 barrels have been collected during a night. When 

 dressed the fish is reckoned by the peasantry a great 

 delicacy, but to my taste it is much too strong. But 

 they are sought after for other purposes ; from the ^- 

 particular brilliancy of the skin they make an admirable 

 bait for flat-fish ; and hence a spillet-settee prefers 

 them to every other kind, as they are much more durable 

 than the lug,* and infinitely preferable to eels of a 

 coarser size. 



A crowd of a more youthful description of the 

 peasantry are collected every spring-tide to gather 

 cockles on the same sands by daylight when the tide 

 answers. The quantities of these shell-fish thus pro- 

 cured would almost exceed belief ; and I have frequently 

 seen more than would load a donkey collected during 

 one tide by the children of a single cabin. They form a 

 valuable and wholesome addition to the limited variety 

 that the Irish peasant boasts at his humble board ; and 

 afford children, too young for other tasks, a safe and useful 

 employment. 



Indeed, its plentiful supply of shell-fish may be 

 enumerated among the principal advantages which 

 this wild coast offers to its inhabitants. Along the 

 * The sand -worm used by fishermen. 



