IRISH RIVERS. 127 



its name, of Norwegian origin, would seem 

 to be characteristic.* Along the coast of 

 Scotland, most of the streams, if taken at 

 the right time, afford sport. The Ness, at 

 Inverness, and the Arne and Lochy, I have 

 fished in, but without success. I may say 

 the same of the Ayr, and of the rivers which 

 empty themselves into the Solway Frith. A 

 little preserved stream, at Ardgowan, was 

 formerly excellent, after a flood in Septem- 

 ber, for sea trout, and later for salmon: I 

 have had good sport there, and some of my 

 friends have had better. 



In Ireland there are some excellent rivers ; 

 and what you will hardly believe possible, 

 comparing the characters of the two nations, 

 some of them are taken better care of than 

 the Scotch rivers ; which arises a good deal 

 from the influence of the Catholic priests, 

 when they are concerned in the interests of 

 the proprietors, or the Catholic peasantry. 

 I should place the Erne, at Ballyshannon, 

 as now the first river, for salmon fishing 

 from the banks with a rod, in the British 

 * Lax is the Teutonic word for salmon. 



