DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD. 185 



above the level of the upper water, in which pas- 

 sages are left for the salmon, leading into the ma- 

 chines. When they catch their salmon, they string 

 and suspend them at first in the river. The women 

 are employed in curing these fish ; for this pur- 

 pose, they appear to roast them first, and then 

 suspend them on the poles that run along the 

 beams of their houses, in which there are usually 

 from three to five hearths, the heat and smoke 

 from which contribute to their proper curing. 



Coal-fishing in Ireland. The coal-fish re- 

 quires a stiff breeze ; and a dark sky is all 4:he 

 better ; in its detail it is perfectly similar to mac- 

 kerel fishing, only that the superior size of the coal- 

 fish makes stronger tackle and a heavier lead in* 

 dispensable ; an eel seven or eight inches long is 

 the bait ; the head being removed, the hook is in- 

 troduced as in a minnow, and the skin brought 

 three or four inches up the snoud. This latter is a 

 fine line, of two or three fathoms length, affixed to 

 the trap-stick and lead, the weight of which latter 

 is regulated by the sailing ; four or five knots an 

 hour is the best rate of sailing for killing coal-fish, 

 and where they are abundant, the sport is excel- 

 lent. The coal-fish varies in weight from two 

 to fourteen pounds, is finely shaped, immensely 

 rapid, uniting the action of salmon with the vora- 

 city of the pike ; if he miss his first dash, he will 

 follow the bait to the stern of the boat. For 



